Political Forum Format Explained

The annual Pizza & Politics event will be held at the Fireside Inn Monday night, October 22. The debate and public forum is designed to give voters a chance to meet the candidates prior to the November 6 election.

Doors open at 6 pm, dinner is served at 6:30 pm and the candidates’ forum begins at 7:15 pm. The $10 admission includes pizza, pasta and salad.

The forum will be moderated by an out-of-area representative of the League of Women voters. The first selectman candidates will be entitled to five minutes of opening remarks each. The candidates for selectman will be given two minutes each for a general statement.

The first selectman candidates will then have 40 minutes for a question and answer period. Questions will be submitted in writing from the audience, and screened by a panel of representatives from the sponsoring organizations (Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Newtown Women’s Club).

Next, the Charter Revision Commission will be given 10 minutes to present an explanation of the five charter revision questions, which will also be on the November 6 ballot.

The Legislative Council candidates for each of the three districts will be divided up into three sections or corners of the room with their constituents. Each council candidate will be allowed a three-minute opening remark and then will field questions asked directly by audience members in alternating order.

At the same time, the audience will be allowed to ask questions of the Charter Revision Commission in a fourth area of the room.