A key mayoral debate featuring candidates Jeff Buchanan, Andrew Mullin, and Barry Petit will take place on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 6:30 PM at Wayzata City Hall, 600 Rice Street. Hosted by the League of Women Voters Wayzata-Plymouth Area (LWVWPA), this forum provides a valuable opportunity for residents to learn where each candidate stands on critical issues affecting the community.
The forum will follow the League’s well-established nonpartisan format, moderated by trained League members to ensure fairness and balance. All candidates will answer vetted questions on their background, motivations, and goals for the office of mayor. The event will be livestreamed and recorded for future viewing, with links available at www.lwvwpa.org.
Voters are invited to submit questions in advance via email at lwvwpa@lwvmn.org, or during the event using written note cards. The questions will be reviewed and selected by an impartial committee to ensure they reflect the most pressing concerns of voters while avoiding personal or hostile inquiries.
The League of Women Voters Minnesota has a strong tradition of providing forums that empower voters and foster informed participation. According to the LWV, candidate forums offer neutral ground for candidates to share their views and demonstrate their commitment to local issues, while providing voters a platform to engage with those seeking to represent them.
“We spend an enormous of time to ensure that all the candidates are invited multiple times, with phone calls, emails, and certified mail in some cases,” stated League of Women Voters Wayzata-Plymouth President Rebecca Hawthorne.
Hawthorne continued, “The questions are solicited from the public on key topics, and the debate is as non-partisan as possible. The public can submit questions online to our question committee, and we still take questions at the forum. The League has been doing this for 104 years, and for 70 years in Wayzata. We follow a set process and inform the candidates of the rules in advance.”
Other upcoming forums include:
- Plymouth City Council (Wards 1, 3, and At-Large): Monday, September 16, 2024, 7:00 PM, Plymouth City Hall.
- MN House Districts 42A and 42B: Monday, September 23, 2024, 7:00 PM, Plymouth City Hall.
- Hennepin County Commissioner District 7: Monday, September 23, 2024, 7:45 PM, Plymouth City Hall.
For more information on the forums, how to submit questions, or to access the livestream, visit www.lwvwpa.org.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization committed to defending democracy and empowering voters through education and engagement. For more information on voter resources and to see what’s on your ballot, visit www.Vote411.org.
