NAACP Galesburg Branch 3016 will host candidate forums for municipal and school board candidates in the coming weeks.
First up is the forum for Galesburg city council, mayoral, and township supervisor candidates. It’s scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 in the Community Room of the Galesburg Public Library, 264 W. Main St.
Candidates will present their qualifications and reasons for running, and answer questions on topics solicited from local media and the local Democratic and Republican parties.
There will also be time afterwards for the public to meet informally with the candidates.
Confirmed to participate are incumbent mayor Peter Schwartzman and challenger John Pritchard; city council candidates Wendel Hunigan for Ward 2; incumbent Dwight White and challenger Corine Andersen for Ward 4; and first-time candidates Greg Saul, Tianna Cervantez and Demarkius Medley Sr. for Ward 6.
Incumbent Ward 2 council member Wayne Dennis has a conflict and is unable to attend. Both mayoral candidate Pritchard and city council candidate Andersen are seeking re-election to positions they previously held.
Also confirmed are township supervisor candidates for the Township of the City of Galesburg, incumbent Kimberly Thierry (D) and challenger Jennifer Fredrick (R). Thierry and Fredrick also currently hold positions on the Knox County Board.
The forum will be moderated by Heather Norman, general manager of Tri States Public Radio.
The NAACP will host a second forum for candidates for election to the District 205 school school board, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4.
Election Day for the consolidated election is April 1.
Early voting began Feb. 20.