LWV Lee to host forums for local candidates
As election season ramps up, Southwest Florida residents will have the chance to hear from candidates in a series of forums this week.
The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Lee County is hosting a series of candidate forums where the public may attend either in-person or virtually. The series is part of LWV Lee’s commitment to the league’s nonpartisan mission in empowering voters so voters can make an informed vote in the Aug. 18 primary election.
“We would like voters to be informed and to make the choices that are important to them and make an informed vote,” LWV Lee President Sandy Frank. “The candidate forums allow voters to hear from the candidates in their own words — their positions and their values and what they would like the voters to know.”
“The league, as a nonpartisan organization, has specific criteria for doing the forums to make sure that all candidates are involved and that we require the candidates to speak about themselves, not about other candidates, and to share with the voters what their concerns and issues and priorities are,” she added. “So we think we can provide a service to the public to learn about the candidates.”
The forums will give constituents the opportunity to meet candidates running for the Lee County School Board, Lee County Commission and judicial office, along with Cape Coral mayor and the city council. Individuals may register to attend the forums in person or via Zoom.
Upcoming forums include:
– July 9 at 6 p.m.: Lee County School Board Districts 1, 4, 5, 6 Candidate Forum, in partnership with WGCU and The Fort Myers News-Press. All qualified candidates were invited and most have agreed to participate. It will take place at The Water School Room, located at 138 A&B — Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers. Please note: Seats are limited.
– July 11 at 6 p.m.: Lee County Commission and Judicial Races Candidate Forum. All qualified candidates were invited and most have agreed to participate. It will take place at Lakes Regional Library, at 15290 Bass Rd. in Fort Myers. The program is not sponsored nor endorsed by the Lee County Library system.
Frank spoke on why the forums are a great way to get to know candidates and the importance of making an informed vote.
“Elected officials make decisions that affect all of us -the economy, education, the environment, housing, health care, transportation, water quality, many, many issues,” she said. “So voters should be familiar with the candidates and the elected officials and the decision-making process within government so they can understand how those decisions are made and how they affect them personally in their communities.”
Each candidate will have the floor to make an introductory statement, and a moderator will ask each candidate a series of questions. Candidates will then have the opportunity to make a closing statement.
The county commission/judicial forum will have a Zoom link — people must register to receive the link — and the school board forum will be live-streamed via social media for those not attending.
Frank said since the pandemic, LVW Lee has placed an emphasis on making many events available to the public virtually.
While she spoke to the importance of making an informed vote, LWV Lee also encourages residents to exercise their right to vote in general, most notably for races that will be decided in the primary election.
“It’s very important,” Frank said. “I don’t think we can overemphasize that, because the vote determines who the elected officials are, and if people don’t make their voices heard, then they don’t have participation in that process. So we encourage people, again, to stay informed and make their voices heard through the ballot box to vote.”
For more information and to register for the forums, visit https://my.lwv.org/florida/lee-county and visit the calendar tab on the left-hand side.
Individuals can also visit vote411.org for candidate and ballot information.
To reach CJ HADDAD / cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com, please email