The Coos County League of Women Voters will host candidate forums at Coos Bay City Hall. These events are opportunities for voters to hear from the candidates and to ask questions.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 — 7 to 8 p.m., candidates for Coos Bay mayor: Jeff McKeown, John Muenchrath. Then from 8 to 9 p.m., candidates for State Rep. District 9 include Al Pearn, R-Florence, and Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay.

Thursday, Oct. 16 — 7 to 8 p.m., candidates for State Senate District 1: Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, and Eldon Rollins, D-Coquille. Then from 8 to 9 p.m., Coos County ballot measures: Tax to operate county public health department, tax to operate jail and drug enforcement and ordinance limiting/restricting expenditure of county forest fund.

The league is focusing on contested races, including Coos Bay mayor, state Rep. District 9 and state Senate District 1. Candidates for District 1 state representatives were invited, but they declined, as they will be at a forum in Curry County.

League members will read the basic facts of each measure, and will provide arguments in favor and in opposition. County commissioners and staff members will be on hand to answer written questions about each ballot measure.

Nationally, the League of Women Voters has a long-standing reputation for running non-partisan voter information events. League events do not allow promotional materials for a particular candidate or issue. Questions are submitted in writing, to avoid duplicate or inflammatory questions. Candidates will be held to time limits when speaking to make sure all participants have equal opportunity to present their positions.

For more information, call Judith Van Duzer Uno at 267-6508.

Coos Bay mayoral candidate to talk

The public is invited to meet Coos Bay mayoral candidate John Muenchrath at two public events.

He will be in Empire from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Java Jones Coffee House, 757 Newmark Ave.; and in downtown Coos Bay from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Shark Bites Restaurant, 240 South Broadway. 

Muenchrath will discuss why he is running for mayor and listen to the ideas and concerns of Coos Bay citizens, a press release said.

Liberty group hosts two candidates

The Campaign for Liberty Group in Coos County is hosting a Meet the Candidates Forum at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20, at The Coney Station Restaurant, 295 S. Broadway, in Coos Bay.

Rick Goche, candidate for state representative Dist. 1 and Steve Pickering, candidate for Coos Bay city council, will speak. There is no fee for attendance and no purchase necessary for this public event.  

Goche grew up fishing in Tillamook. He is president of Aquatic Resources Inc. and co-founded the Klamath Common Ground Alliance.

Pickering is married to a lifelong Coos Bay resident, has in the past been a Charleston fire department member and amateur radio operator.