Calais forum changes format Candidates to field more questions from public this year

CALAIS – Eight people seeking the mayor’s chair or a seat on the City Council will have a chance to share their views during a candidates night from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Calais Elementary School. Members of the public will be given a chance to question the candidates.

The mayor’s seat is a three-way battle, with former Mayor Judy Alexander and Councilor Joyce Maker taking on incumbent Mayor Eric Hinson.

There are five candidates running for the two three-year vacancies on the City Council. Incumbent Earl Jensen is facing a challenge from newcomers Marianne Moore, Denis Lovely and G. Cecil Moreside. Billy Howard III, who is a member of the Calais School Committee, also is seeking a council seat.

Only two people are running for the two vacancies on the school committee, incumbents Regina Taylor and Theresa Tirrell.

The Oct. 28 forum is sponsored by the Bangor Daily News, the Calais Advertiser, The DownEast Times and WQDY-AM (1230) in cooperation with Washington County Technical College. It will be broadcast over WQDY-AM and local cable Channel 3.

This year’s candidates night format will differ from last year’s, when the emphasis was on questions from the news media. William Flahive, president of WCTC, again will serve as moderator.

On Monday, the candidates will give two-minute opening statements during which each will be asked to identify the issues facing the city, the solutions to some of those issues, and what special qualities they have to be elected either as a city councilor or mayor.

In an effort to make the public more a part of the process, the candidates will then field questions from Calais residents for the next 40 minutes. After the audience-question period will be a 20-minute segment when the candidates will be able to ask questions of one another.

The news media then will follow with questions.

There will be no closing statements.