ST. MARYS — In Pennsylvania, the primary election date is scheduled for June 2. In order to help voters learn more about the candidates for state senator of the 25th District and state representative of the 75th District, Life Matters Now plans to host a Republican Candidate Forum at 5:30 p.m. May 19 at the Red Fern in St. Marys.
At the forum, the candidates will introduce themselves, and a question and answer session will follow.
Dick Jones, coordinator for the event, stated that it is important for voters to become informed by the candidates themselves. Because Sen. Joe Scarnati and Rep. Matt Gabler are not running this election, both offices are open to new candidates. Couple that with the COVID-19 crisis, and voters face even more of a challenge to learn what positions each candidate takes on topics that matter most in local communities. The forum provides that opportunity.
Pastor Scott Wiest of Shiloh Presbyterian Church and other members of Life Matters Now and Elk County Right to Life are assisting Jones with this event.
Attorney Thomas Wagner will emcee the forum. All six Republican candidates will attend. For state senator of the 25th District, the candidates are Cris Dush, Jefferson County; Jim Brown, Jefferson County; and John Herm Sublizio, Clearfield County. For state representative of the 75th District, the candidates are Mike Armanini, Clearfield County; Michael Clement, Clearfield County; and Lisa A Labrasca Becker, Clearfield County.
The general public is invited to the forum, pending relaxation of current quarantine requirements. Seating for voters will be limited as chairs in the hall will be arranged six feet apart per the social distancing guidelines. The event will be broadcast on a local radio station and will be streamed live on Facebook so that all voters will have the opportunity to hear each candidate. The forum will be posted afterwards on the website www.lifemattersnow.org for viewers who may not be able to tune in live. In the event the general public cannot attend due to quarantine rules, the forum will still take place and voters will still have the opportunity to hear the candidates through the electronic means just mentioned. Technical details are still being developed.
The website, www.lifemattersnow.org, is now accepting questions and reservations. Although the forum is sponsored by pro-life groups, questions are not limited to pro-life issues. Because of limited space, reservations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Direct inquiries to Jones at richardeugenej@gmail.com or Wiest at stwiest@gmail.com.
