Free, but donations gladly accepted=)

Respond to Racism and LO for LOve, two grassroots community-action organizations, are teaming up to host a candidate forum "to be sure that we all have the information we need to make an informed vote," according to Respond to Racism co-founder Willie Poinsette. "We're asking people to join us and learn about the experience, the ideas and the vision of our neighbors who are stepping forward to serve our community," she says. The forum will include a brief introduction for each candidate, followed by either two or three questions drafted by a working group with members from both organizations. Audience members will also be able to submit written questions on notecards during the event, and the moderators will go through the list to pick additional questions at the end. Audience questions can be directed at specific candidates or the entire group. The forum will have two moderators, one adult and one youth, and the working group is also reaching out to include youth voices in the process of drafting the questions.

All eight candidates have accepted invitations to The Review's Oct. 18 forum, which is being co-hosted by students from the Lake Oswego Youth Leadership Council. Candidates will be given a chance to introduce themselves to voters; answer questions from Review Editor Gary M. Stein, who will serve as moderator; and participate in a Q&A session with attendees at the end of the evening. "Our forum will focus on a variety of issues facing the city, ranging from broad planning issues like the future of the Stafford area to day-to-day topics like a potential ban on plastic bags," Stein says. "Nothing is off-limits." The forum will be held in the lower-level community room at the Lakewood Center. The entrance is on the side of the building facing Middlecrest Road. The free event will also be recorded for broadcast later on The Review's website, www.lakeoswegoreview.com.