DIA mayoral forum May 30!

Democracy in Action is set for a candidates night that sounds just fascinating -- no written position statements, we all will have heard enough of that by then, but instead some real honest discussion (or not so honest, this forum sounds pretty revealing) of vision for Rapid City's future.

Mark your calendars!

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION MAYORAL FORUM

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

A forum for all candidates for the office of Mayor of Rapid City will be held Wednesday, May 30, 6:30 pm at National American University, Administration Building, Kansas City Street.

Coffee will be offered at 6:30 pm, giving the public an opportunity to meet with the candidates on an informal basis. The forum will begin at 7:00 pm, and is anticipated to end about 9:00 pm. All members of the public are welcome. Admission is free.

"We feel this will be a different forum from others that are planned," said Ruth Waddington. "Ours will be less formal, less structured, and hopefully that will encourage a dialogue between the public and candidates, a free exchange of ideas and open discussion."

Other differences between the DIA forum and others will be the elimination of introductory remarks, which, with eight candidates, could take as much as 40 minutes. Two DIA women will moderate the forum, which will assure candidates equal time and encourage complete answers to questions asked by the public. The candidates themselves will have an opportunity to address or question each other.

"Our only rule," said Waddington, "is civility. We want to encourage civil open dialogue between the public and candidates."