WAIMEA, Hawaii: A large gathering of community groups will co-host a large candidate forum in Waimea this evening, which will feature races for U.S. Congress as well as the local County Council races for District 1 and 9.

From the Waimea Community Association:

Farmers, Waimea and Kawaihae Hawai’ian homesteaders, healthy community and early childhood advocates, business owners, Friends of the Library, and several other North Hawai’i community groups—a total of 12 in all—are joining together to co-host the first of two election year voter education Candidate Forums beginning at 5:15 p.m., Thursday, June 7, 2012 in the Waimea School cafeteria.

Everyone is invited to participate in what will be a “speed dating” format, which gives small clusters of voters an opportunity to talk-story with each individual candidate.  There is no charge, and healthy snacks will be provided by co-host groups along with complimentary, hot Starbucks coffee and water.

Joining Waimea Community Association in co-hosting the forums are Friends of the Future/Tutu’s House, Waimea Hawai’ian Homesteaders Association, Kailapa Community Association (Kawaihae homesteaders), Peoples’ Advocacy For Trails Hawai’i (PATH), the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, North Hawai’i Rotary, Baby Steps To Stronger Big Island Families, Friends of Thelma Parker Memorial Library, Waimea Hawai’ian Civic Club, Waimea Preservation Association, and the Lalamilo Farmlots Association.

The June 7 forum will spotlight three major races:

• U.S. House of Representatives
• County Council District 1 (wetside Waimea and Hamakua)
• County Council District 9 (dryside Waimea-North Kohala and Kawaihae-Puako-Waikoloa).

Candidates who have confirmed participation include:

• U.S. House:  Rafael Del Castillo, Tulsi Gabbard, Mufi Hannemann, Esther Kiaaina, and Robert Marx.
• Council Dist. 1:  Larry Gering, Jo Kim, Valerie Poindexter, and Chelsea Yagong.
• Council Dist. 9: Bill Sanborn, “Sonny” Shimaoka, and Margaret Wille.

WCA’s second non-partisan candidate forum will be at 5:15 p.m., Thurs., July 12, also in the Waimea School cafeteria.  It will spotlight the State Senate, State House, Mayoral, and County Prosecutor races.

As always with WCA meetings, attendees are urged to bring a donation of cash or non-perishable foods to be given to the Waimea food pantry operated by Annunciation Catholic Church. Checks payable to the church for the food pantry are tax deductible.

For further information, call Sherman Warner (885-1725) or Patti Cook (937-2833).