Second City Council Candidates Forum

Follow-up Forum to Focus on Community Questions

HARRISONBURG, VA—The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Green Network, Downtown Dining Alliance, ShenandoahValley Bicycle Coalition andNorthend Greenway will be hosting the second in a two-part candidate forum series on Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. at James Madison University’s Memorial Hall Auditorium. In this forum, candidates will respond to questions submitted during the event or to forum organizers prior to the event. The forum, which will allow voters to hear views of the candidates on everything from economic security to issues in local public schools, will be again moderated by the Fairfield Center and the JMU Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue.

Over 130 residents and students attended the September 27 event at Memorial Hall. Forum organizers say the forum is intended to publicly engage candidates for city council about their views and promote citizen participation in the democratic process.

“Nice places to live, work, and play don’t just happen,” says Pete Bsumek of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Green Network. “The decisions we make today will shape the future of our city for years to come. These forums will help our community and its leaders think about the future, and will help the voters of Harrisonburg choose leaders who have the vision and ability to make important decisions about everything from encouraging smart sustainable growth, to providing affordable housing and the cultural and recreational amenities that will attract good paying jobs to our area.”

All eight candidates are expected to return for the October 2 forum: incumbent Democrats Mayor Richard Baugh and Councilman Kai Degner; Democrat Deb Fitzgerald; Republicans Christine Johnson, Rodney Eagle and Anthony Bailey; and independents Abe Shearer and Roger Baker. Each candidate will receive 90 seconds for a closing statement and up to 20 or 60 seconds to answer 14 audience questions.

For those unable to attend the forum, video will be available on the Northend Greenway’s YouTube channel following the event at: www.youtube.com/northendgreenway.

WHAT:  Candidate Forum for Harrisonburg City Council

WHEN:  Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE:  JMU Memorial Hall Auditorium (formerly Harrisonburg High School), 395 S. High St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801

PARKING:  No ticketing in north and west side parking lots. East side parking lot is not open to general public. Ample bike parking at all entrances.

WHO:  Hosted by Harrisonburg-Rockingham Green Network, Downtown Dining Alliance, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and the Northend Greenway.

NOTES:  Submit advance questions to Suzi Carter at suzi@northenedgreenway.org or Thomas Jenkins at tj@shenandoahbicycle.com.