Editor’s note: This story was updated Sept. 9 at 10:31 a.m. to include the venue for the Spring Hill candidate forums.
The Johnson County Post will host 12 nights of local candidate forums ahead of the Nov. 4 general election, giving our readers and Johnson County voters a chance to hear directly from the candidates who want to represent them in city government and on school boards.
As has been the case since the Post started hosting these events nearly 15 years ago, the questions we’ll ask the candidates will come directly from our readers.
You can still tell us what you want candidates talking about this election season. Send us your ideas or questions for the candidates to stories@johnsoncountypost.com.
Ahead of the start of early voting on Saturday, Oct. 25, we will publish candidates’ responses to these questions crafted from reader input, as well.
“There’s often a significant gap between the issues that politicians and political parties talk about most and the issues that local voters say are most important to them,” said Publisher Jay Senter. “Our approach is designed to put average residents’ interests at the center of campaign coverage.”
Post Editor Kyle Palmer will moderate all 12 nights of forums this fall. All events will be free and open to the public.
Several of these events will be hosted at Johnson County Library branches and will be co-sponsored by the library. Johnson County Library hosting these events does not constitute an endorsement for any particular candidate or issue.
All the forums are listed below. You can tell us you’re coming on our Facebook page, but if you don’t have Facebook, you can send us an email at stories@johnsoncountypost.com. It helps us anticipate crowd size for each event.
Fairway and Westwood city councils
- Wednesday, Sept. 10
- Fairway candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Westwood candidates at: 7 p.m.
- Westwood View Elementary School, 4935 Belinder Ave., Westwood
- RSVP on Facebook
Shawnee City Council
- Thursday, Sept. 11
- All candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Monticello Library, 22435 W. 66th St., Shawnee
- RSVP on Facebook
Spring Hill City Council and Spring Hill school board
- Tuesday, Sept. 16
- School board candidates at: 6:30 p.m.
- City council candidates at: 7:30 p.m.
- Spring Hill Middle School, 301 South St., Spring Hill
- RSVP on Facebook
Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees
- Wednesday, Sept. 17
- All candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park
- RSVP on Facebook
Merriam Mayor/City Council and Mission City Council
- Tuesday, Sep. 23
- Merriam candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Mission candidates at: 7 p.m.
- Merriam Plaza Library, 6120 Slater St., Merriam
- RSVP on Facebook
Leawood City Council and Blue Valley school board
- Thursday, Sept. 25
- Blue Valley candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Leawood candidates at: 7 p.m.
- Leawood Pioneer Library, 4700 Town Center Drive, Leawood
- RSVP on Facebook
Prairie Village City Council
- Tuesday, Sept. 30
- Wards 1-3 candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Wards 4-6 candidates at: 7 p.m.
- Corinth Library, 8100 Mission Road, Prairie Village
- RSVP on Facebook
Gardner City Council and Gardner Edgerton school board
- Wednesday, Oct. 1
- School board candidates at: 6 p.m.
- City council candidates at: 7 p.m.
- Trail Ridge Middle School, 495 E. Grand St., Gardner
- RSVP on Facebook
Overland Park Mayor/City Council
- Thursday, Oct. 2
- Mayor candidates at: 6 p.m.
- City Council candidates at: 6:45 p.m.
- Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park
- RSVP on Facebook
Lenexa City Council
- Wednesday, Oct. 8
- All candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Lenexa City Center Library, 8778 Penrose Lane, Lenexa
- RSVP on Facebook
De Soto Mayor/City Council and USD 232 school board
- Thursday, Oct. 9
- School board candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Mayor and city council candidates at: 7 p.m.
- De Soto High School, 35000 W. 91st St., De Soto
- RSVP on Facebook
Olathe City Council and Olathe school board
- Wednesday, Oct. 15
- All candidates at: 6 p.m.
- Forum Hall, K-State Olathe, 22201 W. Innovation Drive, Olathe
- RSVP on Facebook
Reminder: Ask the candidates questions
The questions we ask the candidates during our forums and in our written questionnaires come directly from our readers.
So, tell us! What local issues are most important to you? What do you want to hear the candidates talking about during this fall’s campaign?
Send your suggestions to us at stories@johnsoncountypost.com.
