OTTAWA — The Ottawa candidates forum is tonight from 7 to 9 at the Franklin County Annex, 15th and Main. Tonight’s forum will feature candidates for the Ottawa City Commission and the Ottawa school board. The forum is probably the best chance that voters will have to meet and ask questions of local candidates as well as hear about local issues, said Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce president John Coen. Although it’s sometime difficult to predict what they will be, there will likely be some a few hot-button issues on tap, including proposals for new school facilities and how the local governments will handle stiff state budget cuts, he said. The forum is sponsored by the chamber’s Legislative Action Committee, the Franklin County Farm Bureau Association and AT&T. Refreshments will be served. The Ottawa school board ended up with six candidates for the three seats: Bill Allegre, the only incumbent; Linda Alderman, Richard Jackson, Tim Caitlin, Russ Wilson and Norman Wooge. The Ottawa City Commission had five candidates for the three seats: incumbents Jeff Richards and Linda Reed, former commissioner Rocky Fleer, Mike Skidmore and Helen Hood.
Tuesday, March 26, 2 p.m.
