Candidates for city offices in Grants Pass and Cave Junction will meet with voters at the Redwood Grange on Saturday, October 3, during a public forum hosted by Citizens for Responsible Government.
The event runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 1830 Redwood Ave. in Grants Pass. Nine candidates have committed to participate so far, giving residents an opportunity to hear directly from people seeking office in two Josephine County cities before the November 3 election.
The Grants Pass participants currently listed are Tom Bradbeer, Erin Cook, Michael O’Coyne, Richard Riker, Candy Rosenberg and Rob Pell. Jesse Dugas, Dan Bosch and Jean Ann Miles are listed as the participating Cave Junction candidates. The roster reflects commitments received by the organizer and could change before the forum.
Questions for the Cave Junction candidates will be facilitated by Forrest Roth, editor and publisher of the Illinois Valley News. Larry West, Citizens for Responsible Government’s parliamentarian, will facilitate the Grants Pass portion. The separate facilitators will allow voters to follow the candidates’ responses by city during the two-hour program.
The forum places both municipal contests in one room, though the candidates are seeking to serve different communities. Grants Pass residents will be able to hear from the people on the Grants Pass roster, while Cave Junction residents can follow the responses of the three candidates listed for their city. For voters still deciding among candidates, the event offers a chance to compare how they discuss public service in their own words.
Citizens for Responsible Government describes the gathering as an opportunity for constituents to meet candidates and listen to their views on serving in elected office. The organization has identified the participants and facilitators but has not specified the questions that will be asked or whether questions will be taken directly from the audience. Residents planning to attend should therefore expect a facilitated candidate forum rather than an open public meeting.
The Redwood Grange event is scheduled one month before Election Day. According to the organizer’s election information, October 13 is the last day to register to vote or update a registration for the November election, and ballots are scheduled for distribution beginning October 14. That timing gives voters an opportunity to hear from the candidates before ballots arrive.
In-person attendance is encouraged. Residents unable to travel to the grange may participate through Zoom, but they must register in advance. The registration link is available through the October 3 event listing at www.jococrg.org. The organizer also posts information on its Facebook page at facebook.com/JOCOCRG.
The forum is set for a Saturday afternoon at a Grants Pass venue accessible to residents who want to hear both cities’ candidates in a single visit. Voters seeking the latest participant list or online registration details can check the event listing before October 3.