 October 14, 2004
"These forums will provide voters with a chance to ask questions of the people who want to represent them in the Legislature," said Ed Schoenfeld, Regional News Director of the CoastAlaska public radio consortium. "Some Southeast communities are remote and get few visits from candidates." Candidates will answer questions from news reporters as well as listeners. Callers can use stations' toll-free lines to pose their questions during the forums. The first regional forum will focus on the race to represent House District 2, which includes Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and Pelican. Incumbent Peggy Wilson, a Wrangell Republican, faces challenger Roxanne Houston, a Sitka Democrat. The District 2 forum will air 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19. It will be hosted by KCAW-FM News Director Robert Woolsey. The forum will be broadcast by KCAW in Sitka and Pelican, KFSK-FM in Petersburg and KSTK-FM in Wrangell. The second and third forums will focus on the race to represent small communities in what's known as the Southeast Islands district. "These communities are spread out, from Metlakatla to Skagway and all the way up to Yakutat and Cordova," Schoenfeld said. "It's hard for residents to find out much about the candidates and these programs will provide them with information." The second forum, from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, will feature candidates for House District 5 - Haines Democrat Tim June and Haines Republican Bill Thomas. KTOO-TV Reporter Bill McAllister and KRBD-FM Prince of Wales Island Reporter Jay Marble will co-host. The third forum will follow, from 8 to 9 p.m. the same night. It will feature Senate District C candidates Albert Kookesh, an Angoon Democrat, and Carl Morgan, an Aniak Republican. The forum will be co-hosted by KTOO's McAllister and KIYU-FM Reporter Tim Bodony. "While including the same Southeast communities as House District 5, Senate District C stretches into Alaska's Interior and runs from the Canadian border most of the way to the Bering Sea," Schoenfeld said. "Stations in some of the northern communities, such as KIYU, will be part of this broadcast." The House District 5 and Senate District C forums will be broadcast on KTOO in Juneau, Hoonah and Gustavus; KRBD in Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island; KCAW in Sitka, Tenakee Springs, Kake, Angoon and Yakutat; KFSK in Petersburg, Point Baker and Port Protection; KHNS in Haines, Skagway and Klukwan; KSTK in Wrangell and Naukati; KIYU in Galena, KSKO in McGrath and KZPA in Fort Yukon. The fourth regional forum will focus on the race for Senate District A, which includes Ketchikan, Saxman, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka and parts of Prince of Wales. Incumbent Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican, faces Democrat David Landis of Ketchikan. The forum will be broadcast 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, and will be hosted by KRBD News Director Deanna Garrison in Ketchikan. It will be broadcast by KRBD, KCAW, KFSK and KSTK. Two other forums feature candidates running for legislative districts that include listeners to only one station. KRBD also host the House District 1 candidates 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19. Democrat Dawn Allen-Herron and Republican Jim Elkins face off in the race to represent Ketchikan, Saxman and parts of Prince of Wales Island. KTOO will host a forum for House District 3 and 4 candidates 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21. District 3 incumbent Beth Kerttula, a Democrat, faces Republican Andrew Engstrom in the race to represent downtown Juneau, Douglas Island, and the Lemon Creek and Juneau Airport neighborhoods. District 4 incumbent Bruce Weyhrauch, a Republican, faces Democrat Bob Doll in the race to represent the Mendenhall Valley, Auke Bay and parts of Juneau further north. The House District 5 and Senate District C forums are co-productions of CoastAlaska and Community Radio of Alaska, two consortiums of public radio stations. The other forums are co-produced by CoastAlaska and the host stations.
Ketchikan, Saxman, Prince of Wales: KRBD-FM will broadcast:
Juneau, Hoonah, Gustavus: KTOO-FM will broadcast
Sitka, Pelican, Tenakee Springs, Angoon, Kake, Port Alexander, Yakutat: KCAW-FM will broadcast:
Wrangell, Coffman Cove, Naukati: KSTK-FM will broadcast:
Petersburg, Point Baker, Port Protection: KFSK-FM will broadcast:
Haines, Skagway, Klukwan: KHNS will broadcast:
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