Fairfield candidate forums this week

FAIRFIELD – Fairfield residents will have a chance to learn about local candidates running for office in a pair of candidate forums this week.

The forums will be on consecutive nights at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, Tuesday, Oct. 6, and Wednesday, Oct. 7. Both will run from 6-8:30 p.m.

The first forum will feature the two candidates for Jefferson County sheriff, Republican Bart Richmond and Democrat Tracy Vance.

Later that evening, residents will hear from the four candidates for Jefferson County supervisor, Republicans Dee Sandquist and Nick Adam, Democrat Susie Drish and independent Keith Vlademar. Those four are running for two seats on the board. Sandquist is up for re-election, and Supervisor Lee Dimmitt is stepping down after 12 years on the job.

The following night, residents will hear from the candidates for state offices, two Iowa House races and one Iowa Senate race. The two Iowa House races are between Republican incumbent Jeff Shipley and Democratic challenger Phil Miller for Iowa House District 82, and between Republican incumbent Joe Mitchell and Democratic challenger Jeff Fager for Iowa House District 84.

The Senate race is for District 42 between incumbent Democrat Rich Taylor and Republican challenger Jeff Reichman.

Questions may be submitted for the forum event via email at Ceo@FairfieldIowa.com or by calling the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce at 641-472-2111. New questions will not be taken once the forum has started.

Attendance at the event is limited due to the pandemic.

Those who can't make the event in person can watch it online, via the Fairfield Media Center's YouTube channel or through its Facebook page.

' YouTube.com/channel/UCM2Yfzag4ItKlasmR7hxZWQ

' Facebook.com/FairfieldMediaCenter/

The arts center's new executive director who started in August, Lindsay Bauer, will moderate the forums.

The organizations responsible for the forum are the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Fairfield Economic Development Association and Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.