LONDONDERRY — This weekend, voters will have their first chance to get answers from the candidates running for office.
The town's annual Candidate Forum will take place Saturday, Feb. 16, at 9 a.m. in the Moose Hill room at Town Hall. It will be broadcast live on Public Access TV.
The forum is hosted by Town Council Chairman Joe Paradis, who is not seeking re-election. Paradis believes the event helps voters make informed decisions.
"Nobody knows what the questions are, so everyone has an equal chance to show their cause, because there is nothing prearranged," said Paradis.
The forum will give a press panel and the public a chance to ask questions of the candidates on the March 11 ballot.
The forum is scheduled to start with the candidates for Town Council and Budget Committee, who will field questions for about 90 minutes, followed by the candidates for School Board, library trustee and town moderator.
One of the four contested races is for the Town Council, with five candidates running for two seats.
Michael Brown, Michael Carrier, Sean O'Keefe, Gary Vermillion and Paul DiMarco are running for the positions held by incumbents Paradis and Mark Oswald, neither of whom is seeking re-election
Paradis said he is happy with how his one term turned out — and that's why he is not running again.
"When I got into this, I did it as a community service. I didn't get into it to be on the board for nine or six years," he said. "I really don't believe that people should stay in a town council for a long amount of time."
At Saturday's forum, each candidate will have one minute to introduce himself, followed by questions from the press and the public.
"Anyone can come; we are not just going to let those who are always involved be the ones who ask the questions, said Paradis. "We're randomly going to pick people from the audience if they have questions."
Paradis is encouraging anyone who is able to attend the event to do so. He feels that it will be a challenge for voters to get to know the people they will be voting for.
"You want to find someone who is a balanced observer and decision-maker; you don't want somebody who is going to make decisions on how they feel," he said.
