Winsted candidates forum scheduled

WINSTED >> Candidates for selectmen and school board seats will be invited to address the public shortly before the autumn municipal election, as the Winchester Cradle to Career collaborative has scheduled a forum to be held Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m. on the campus of Northwestern Connecticut Community College.

The event will be moderated by John Dankosky, the host of WNPR’s “Where We Live,” as well as a Winsted resident.

“Distinct from a debate, the forum will be a non-confrontational venue allowing Winchester residents the opportunity to learn more about the candidates,” wrote representatives of the collaborative in a release announcing the event. “While each candidate will have an opportunity to speak about themselves, they will also be addressing issues of concern to the collaborative and the community as a whole with the organization’s mission of ensuring that all children, youth and families in Winchester are healthy, happy and successful, that leaves a broad area from which to draw questions.”

The event is to be free and open to the public. However, tickets are required and are available at www.tinyurl.com/forumtix.

If seats are available on the night of the event, tickets will also be available at the door.

“The collaborative has been working on behalf of the community for nearly 10 years, and has made great strides in that time,” wrote Karin Taylor, the collaborative chairwoman and director of the Beardsley and Memorial Library. “And as we prepare for our next phase of service, we believe this event will be instrumental in expanding the role of parents and community leaders in our work.”

A number of candidates have come forward to be considered for the seven open seats on the Board of Selectmen and five open seats on the Board of Education.

Complete listings of the slates put forward by the Republican and Democratic Town Committees, as well as the Winsted Independent Party, are available on the website of The Register Citizen.

Independent petitioning candidates, including Scott Eisenlohr, the former town inlands/ wetlands officer, and Richard Dutton, an incumbent member of the Board of Education, have also announced their candidacy.

The election is scheduled to be held Nov. 3.