The Northampton Area League of Women Voters is hosting two Candidates Forums for Northampton candidates running for mayor, City Council in Wards 1, 3 and 5, and for City Councilors at-large, prior to the Preliminary Election on September 16th.

This is an unprecedented moment in Northampton voting history. Normally there are too few candidates to hold candidate forums for Preliminary Elections. The League is celebrating this great surge of candidates. THIS IS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, more important now than ever before. While the federal government is weaponizing government against Americans, local and state governments must take on greater responsibility to protect our public health and safety. Our local officials are more important than ever.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to ensure adequate seating. These are popular events and we cannot guarantee that seats will be available on the day of the forums.

On August 25th the League is hosting candidates for City Councilors in Wards 1, 3, and 5. Kathy Campbell from the Amherst LWV will moderate. Jean Cherdack, Franklin County LWV, will alternate asking questions for the candidates with Alexander MacDougall from the Hampshire Gazette. Everyone is encouraged to submit questions on our web page at www.lwvnorthamptonarea.org. Questions will also be collected from forum attendees who can submit questions on note cards.

We are happy to provide multiple viewing options: in-person at BOMBYX, live streamed at northamptonopenmedia.org, and on Comcast Community TV channel 12. Northampton Open Media (NOM) is recording interviews of all the candidates. The interviews and the recordings of both forums will be available on the League website and the NOM youtube channel.