By KRISTI MAYFIELD
kmayfield@oakdaleleader.com
With four candidates seeking two available terms on the Oakdale City Council in November, local voters will soon have an opportunity to meet them and learn more about what each of the local candidates brings to the table. A Candidate Forum is scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Oakdale City Council Chambers, 277 N. Second Ave., Oakdale.
Hosted by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, the evening will begin with a time for submitting question cards, offered from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.; the forum itself will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
None of those seeking the seats for the council are incumbents. Hopefuls include, in alphabetical order: Caitlyn Barreda, Sales and Marketing Professional; Justin Biedinger, Technological Recruitment Company President; Jeff Kettering, Criminal Justice Professor; and Jarod Pitassi, Civil Engineer.
Council seats are filled through an at-large format, not by district, so the top two vote getters in the November election will win the posts.
The forum is not a debate; instead, it provides an opportunity for those attending to get to know the candidates and hear from them directly about their visions and goals.
Community members can submit questions to the candidates via cards available at the forum but can also submit them via email prior to the forum at: membership@oakdaleCAchamber.org
Questions submitted on line will be accepted through Monday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m.
Chamber officials noted that, due to time constraints, they may not be able to get to all submitted questions; the Chamber Board of Directors will also review submissions “to ensure appropriateness and avoid repetition.”
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.