From Cavan Wilk of Greater Greater Washington.
In order to raise voters’ awareness on transportation, land use, livable/walkable communities, climate change, habitat protection/restoration, and other key environmental and quality-of-life issues, you are invited to participate in a Candidates’ Forum on these issues. The Sierra Club of Montgomery County and the Action Committee for Transit (ACT) are co-sponsoring this Forum on Tuesday March 31 at 7:30 pm at John F. Kennedy High School. Kennedy HS is a 15 minute walk from the Glenmont Metro and is served by the C7, C8, and C9 Metrobus routes.
The parameters of this Candidates’ Forum are as follows:
* The forum will start promptly at 7:30 pm and will end promptly at 9:30 pm.
* All Democratic and Republican candidates have been invited.
* Approximately two-thirds of the questions will be chosen by the Sierra Club and ACT; approximately one-third of the questions will come from the audience.
* Each candidate will be allowed two minutes to respond to each question.
* The moderator will ask follow-up questions to one or more candidates when appropriate.
* We will allow each candidate to make a final one-minute statement during the closing minutes of the Forum.
* The moderator will enforce all time limits.
* We will invite the voters of District 4 and the general public and the press to attend this event.
Thank you for your willingness to support the democratic process in Montgomery County’s District 4. The Action Committee for Transit and the Sierra Club of Montgomery County hope that you will attend and embrace the March 31 Candidates’ Forum as an important element of the political process.
Earlier this month, David [Alpert] posted a list of candidates. During the post, David also described an underlying issue that will be discussed at this forum:
The county is struggling with the same debates over the future of our communities as in many other parts of the nation. Does it want to strengthen and increase its walkable neighborhoods and transit options? Or should it restrict all growth inside the Beltway to keep existing suburban communities just as they are? On Greater Greater Washington, we have our opinions. East County voters have to make their decision, and that seat on the Council could tip an important balance for the entire county.
A thorough Greater Greater Washington post about the issues surrounding land use planning in Montgomery County can be found here.
I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Cavan Wilk