UAFS Slated to Host Candidate Town Halls

Written By: Ian Silvester

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith will host two candidate town halls October 12 and 13, giving students and community members the opportunity to hear from candidates running for Fort Smith Board of Directors and Mayor positions.

Candidates for the Board of Directors' at-large Positions 5 and 6 will participate in the first town hall at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in the Reynolds Room of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. Mayoral candidates will participate in the second town hall at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the same location.

Both events are presented by the UAFS Democracy Project and are free and open to the public. UAFS students will moderate the discussions.

“Instead of relying solely on news reports and on campaign marketing, our students get to ask substantive questions to candidates who then have to look our students in the eye and answer those questions,” said Williams Yamkam, associate professor of political science.

Yamkam said the outcomes of both elections will affect students and Fort Smith residents because the elected officials will make decisions that directly impact the community.

“This civic interaction is healthy for a vibrant democracy when voters get to assess candidates as part of the process to decide whom to vote for,” he said.

Candidates for the Board of Directors' at-large Position 5 include Krystal Cadelli, Quinton Cunningham and Lavon Morton. Candidates for at-large Position 6 include Casey Millspaugh, Carl Nevin and Brian Trumbly.

Mayoral candidates include Christina Catsavis, Sara Harrison, Lee Kemp, Shayne McKinney, Yvette C. Powers and Dan Williams.

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