MEDIA RELEASE

Candidates vying for votes in four hotly contested North Hawaii races for public office will face off during a non-partisan forum beginning at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Waimea School Cafeteria.

All candidates in the four races have been invited and the following have confirmed participation:

* U.S. Senate: Linda Lingle;
* State Senate: Kelly Greenwell and Malama Solomon;
* Hawaii County Mayor: Billy Kenoi and Harry Kim;
* Hawaii County Council District 9: Sonny Shimaoka and Margaret Wille.

Sponsored by Waimea Community Association and a diverse group of community organizations, the forum will dedicate about 30 minutes to each of the four key races.

This forum, the third of the election cycle to be sponsored by this hui of community organizations, will follow a traditional question and answer format with Sherry Bracken facilitating.

Questions are being provided by the various event sponsor organizations. In addition, all who attend are invited to submit written questions.

A panel will review these questions and select the most timely and appropriate ones for various offices.

Everyone is invited to the Waimea forum and there is no charge but a donation of non-perishable food items is suggested, or attendees are invited to make a tax deductible donation to Annunciation’s Waimea food pantry.

There also will be steaming hot coffee – donated by Starbucks — and light snacks will be provided by sponsor groups and several Waimea businesses including Domino’s Pizza and Minut Stop.

For further information, call Sherman Warner at 885-1725.