Voters Forums

The Benton City Chamber of Commerce sponsors voters forums prior to contested elections where citizens can have an opportunity to meet and listen to the candidates so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box.

2008 Primary Voters Forum

The 2008 election season is an important one with state and national offices at stake.  The primary forum will be held on Thursday, July 24 at the Ki-Be Middle School multipurpose room with candidates for US Congress WA-CD 4, Washington State Legislature District 8 Positions 1 & 2, and Benton Franklin County Superior Court Judge Positions 1 & 5. Primary ballots must be postmarked or returned to the Benton County Auditor's office no later than August 21, 2008.

2007 General Election Voters Forum

The general election forum will be held on Thursday, October 18 at the Ki-Be Middle School multipurpose room with candidates for Mayor and City Council Positions 1, 3, 4, and 5.  Representatives of the Benton County Sheriff's Office will be invited to give a presentation and answer questions about the sales tax increase for law enforcement issue on the ballot, and representatives of Prosser Memorial Hospital will be invited to give a presentation and answer questions about the hospital district property tax increase issue. General election ballots must be postmarked or returned to the Benton County Auditor's office no later than Tuesday, November 6, 2007.

2007 Primary Voters Forum

The 2007 election season is a full one with many local positions on the ballot.  The primary forum will be held on Tuesday, July 31 at the Ki-Be Middle School multipurpose room with candidates for Mayor and City Council Position 3.  Representatives of Benton County Fire Protection District No. 2 will also be invited to give a presentation and answer questions about the two-part fire protection issue on the ballot. Primary ballots must be postmarked or returned to the Benton County Auditor's office no later than August 21, 2007.

2006 Voters Forums

This year, we were fortunate enough to have five of the candidates for Washington State Supreme Court, including two of the sitting Justices, come participate in our forums. The forums were held on August 27 and 29, just prior to the primary election ballots coming out in the mail.  We heard from candidates in contested races for the following positions:

• Washington State Supreme Court positions 2, 8, and 9
• U.S. Congress, 4th Congressional District
• Benton County Commissioner Position 2
• Benton County Assessor
• Benton County Clerk
• Benton County Coroner 

2005 Voters Forums

In conjunction with the League of Women Voters, our forum featured candidates for positions of local interest:

• City of Benton City Council positions 1 and 2
• Fire Protection District No. 2 Commissioner
• Port of Kennewick, Position 1 District 3