NEWPORT — Vermont’s North Country Chamber of Commerce will host a Newport City Candidates’ Forum on Thursday, February 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Goodrich Library
The forum is open to the public to attend, and will be broadcast live on local radio station WIKE 103.1 FM / 1490 AM and recorded for future broadcast on community accesses cable.
The forum will be moderated by chamber president Bruce James.
Five people are running for various top-level city offices including Mayor and City Council.
In the race for City Mayor are Paul Monette, Dan Ross, and John Wilson.
Running for City Council are James Merriam, Melissa Pettersson, Dan Ross, and John Wilson.
The top two vote-getters for the City Council will be elected.
Ross and Wilson are running for both mayor and city council and have said if they are elected mayor, they will turn back the council position, which would then be filled by appointment or special election.
Many people think Newport City is as at a crossroads, with its future in the balance.
Questions over ownership and future of the boardwalk along the lake, water quality issues for Lake Memphremagog, what steps the city could take, if any, to improve the downtown economic climate, growing the city’s grand list, and the ever-present tax issues are some of the questions expected to be presented.
The forum will be held on the second floor of the Goodrich Library and is open to the public to attend.
