League of Women Voters hosts forum with elected officials

By Chris Fortune

St. Joseph residents had the opportunity to question local office holders Friday afternoon.

Missouri state Reps. Bill Falkner and Dean VanSchoiack, Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson and St. Joseph City Councilman Randy Schultz attended the forum at the St. Joseph branch of the Rolling Hills Library.

Each officeholder introduced themselves, discussed their positions and projects they are currently involved in, and then fielded questions.

“One of our missions is to engage people in civic participation and make sure that they’re informed voters,” said Michelle Mears, president of the League of Women Voters of Northwest Missouri. “So we really want to have forums like these so that people can get to know their elected officials and feel free to ask them questions and give them input so they can make better decisions.”

Mears said the forum was made possible because of the cooperation from local officials, and they were not as common years ago.

“We feel like we’re kind of getting a reputation of having good events, and more and more people are coming,” she said. “We had over 72 people at our school board candidate forum that was last month. And so we feel really good about what we’re doing and how we’re helping the residents learn more about their elected officials.”

St. Joseph resident Drew H. Brown Sr. said it’s important to attend forums and be involved in the government.

“We do that through the representative process by electing people,” he said. “However, we need to be informed on what the issues are so that we elect the right people and follow what they do.”

Brown Sr. said he would have liked to see more residents attend, but he enjoyed how each speaker came to the forum prepared.

“I thought all of them were well-informed and very forthcoming,” he said. “They did not seem to evade any questions, and I appreciate candor.”