Those voting in the June 9 Bridgeport Municipal Election will want to take advantage of Thursday’s “Meet Your Candidates” night at Benedum Civic Center. Featuring candidates for City Council and City Recorder, the event begins at 7 p.m. and is hosted by the GFWC Woman’s Club of Bridgeport.

 

“It’s just a good way for voters to meet the candidates and hear their views on a number of issues,” said Ruth Allen, director of public affairs, GFWC Woman’s Club of Bridgeport.

 

Participating candidates are Dan Cooper, Jeff Smell, Lowell “LJ” Maxey, Mike Bullough and Rob Garcia, who are vying for two City Council positions and Darrell Bowen and Hank Murray, current City Council members who are in the race for City Recorder.

 

Each candidate will be allowed three minutes to introduce themselves before delving into a question and answer session. Citizens in attendance will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions, directed to a particular candidate or a panel of candidates. Attendees will be provided with index cards and pens so they can address the candidates anonymously if they choose.

 

The GFWC club hosted the event prior to previous municipal elections, including the June 2013 race for mayor and city council. Attending that public forum were about 100 voters, who asked questions about everything from city finances and Home Rule to city street repair and future goals insofar as recreation and educational opportunities for citizens.

 

Subsequent feedback from those attendees indicated that the candidate forum is a worthwhile event, Allen said.

 

Helping to facilitate important public issues is one of the club’s objectives and “Meet Your Candidates” falls perfectly in line with that objective, she added.   

 

A former Bridgeport City Council member, Allen knows such an outlet for the dispensing of political view is important to the candidates, as well.

 

Light refreshments will follow the question and answer session.

 

Candidates are asked to arrive by 6:45 p.m. to draw numbers for order of speaking. Citizens are also asked to arrive at that time to ensure adequate seating is in place before the event begins. 

 

Editor's Note: Photos from the May 2013 "Meet Your Candidates" event (from top of Allen and 2013 candidate for mayor Mike Fresa) were taken by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com. See more images from that event HERE.