Candidates to speak during Monday forum

hamber of Commerce will host an election candidates' forum Monday, March 30 in the meeting room area at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St.

The general public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the forum will begin at 6 p.m.

Candidates for the following races have been invited to participate in the forum: USD 234 Board of Education, Uniontown City Council, USD 235 Board of Education, FSCC Board of Trustees and Fort Scott City Commission.

USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold has been invited to provide information on the proposed USD 235 school bond issue and USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham has been invited to give an update on the USD 234 school bond issue that passed in November 2014.

Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin will make a brief presentation on a sales tax proposal for a new county jail that will be on the April 7 ballot.

This election is unique for Fort Scott and Uniontown in that candidates for all board and council/commission positions are uncontested. The only race of competitive nature is that of the Fort Scott City Commission where the top two vote-getters will be awarded four-year terms and the third place finisher will earn a two-year term.

The general public may submit questions to the chamber prior to the event by submitting them via email to fschamber@fortscott.com. In addition, during the event, attendees may write a question on provided note cards that may be asked of the candidates by moderator and local broadcaster Larry Gazaway.

Candidates who have not already responded to the chamber about attending the forum are asked to do so by Friday. More information about the forum is available by contacting the chamber at (620) 223-3566.