Kirkland Rotary Sponsoring Legislative Candidates' Forum Oct. 15

All eight 45th and 48th District candidates running in the Nov. 6 general election for the state House of Representatives will participate in a forum Oct. 15, 6-8 p.m., at the Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland.

The candidates’ forum is being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kirkland and the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, and all eight candidates have confirmed, said Chris Morgan, Rotary program chair.

“This is something we do every year in October when there is an election,” Morgan said. “Last year we hosted city council candidates and this year it’s the state Legislature.”

Two state House seats are open in both the 45th and 48th Districts; the 45th includes most of Kirkland proper, while the 48th includes the southern part of Kirkland. The forum does not include legislative candidates in the 1st Legislative District, which includes parts of Kirkland’s northern neighborhoods.

On hand for the forum will be 45th District candidates Roger Goodman, the Position 1 Democratic incumbent, and Republican challenger Joel Hussey, along with Position 2 incumbent Larry Springer, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Jim Thatcher.

Candidates from the 48th District are Position 1 Democratic incumbent Ross Hunter and Republican challenger Bill Hirt, and Democrat Cyrus Habib and Republican Hank Myers in Position 2. Habib and Myers are running for the seat vacated by State Rep. Deb Eddy.

For details on each candidate, see the King County Elections web page here.

Morgan said the candidates will have one minute for introductory remarks, two minutes to state why they are running and then an opportunity to question their opponents, followed by rebuttals. After a 10-minute break, captains from each table in the audience will ask the candidates questions.

The forum is free and open to the public, but participants may order dinner ($22) or dessert ($10). Those planning on attending are asked to RSVP to Chris Morgan at csmorgan@gmail.com.

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For more stories about the upcoming general election, see the 2012 Kirkland Patch Elections page here.