Three seats on the Barton County Commission are being contested in the Aug. 2 primary election. To learn more about the candidates, the League of Women Voters of Great Bend-Barton County is hosting a candidate forum on Thursday, July 21, at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave. 

The doors will open at 6 p.m. with the forum commencing at 6:30 p.m.

Cole Reif from Eagle radio will be live streaming the event for those who cannot attend.

District 1 has four candidates running: Jefferey Donneker, Matthew Gerritsen, and Duane A. Reif, all from Hoisington; and Linda M. Moeder from Beaver.

District 4 has two candidates running: Jon L. Prescott and Tricia Schliessiger, both from Ellinwood.

District 5 has two candidates running: Rick Davis and Donna Zimmerman, both from Great Bend.

The public is welcome to attend the forum to hear the responses of these eight candidates to questions that will include the role of local government, economic development, taxation and inflation.

To learn more about the candidates, visit the website greatbend.org and click on the link “Candidates Forum July 21.” Candidates have provided bios and photos that are posted on this web page.

The League of Women Voters is a grassroots, volunteer, non-partisan political organization with nine local Leagues across the state. For over 100 years, LWV has encouraged the informed and active participation of citizens in government and has influenced public policy through education and advocacy. 

The League never endorses candidates or political parties.