Nine community organizations will join forces on Friday to host an opportunity for voters to meet candidates for most of the offices that will be on the April 5 ballot here.
This one-stop “Who’s Who Happy Hour” event will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Brewing Projekt, 1807 Oxford Ave. All Eau Claire City Council and Board of Education candidates have been invited, together with County Board candidates in contested races.
“The vast majority” of the invited candidates have said they would attend, according to a press release from JONAH, one of the sponsoring groups. It added that organizations that “work on voting and issues related to voting” will also be represented.
Lynn Buske, a JONAH organizer, said the sponsors “wanted to create an opportunity for people to ask their potential elected officials questions they have, face-to-face, to get some real answers. We are hoping that this non-partisan, no agenda format also will make candidates feel more comfortable.”
The event is intended to provide “a neutral, welcoming space” where voters can meet and greet the candidates as part of an effort “to encourage more informed voting this year,” according to the press release.
Other organizations working on the event include Chippewa Valley Votes, WPEN, Citizen Action, EXPO, Uniting Bridges, Chippewa Valley ACLU, Black & Brown Womyn Power Coalition and the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association. The Brewing Projekt and food trucks will be available for the purchase of refreshments.
More information about the attending organizations and candidates is available on Facebook. Questions can be directed to JONAH at 715-497-8732.