A total of 16 candidates running for various offices in Newton County and at the state level were on hand for a “meet the candidates” forum Monday night at the Seneca Council House.
The Seneca Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event. Those in attendance were: Phillip Vanwinkle, Patty Krueger and Tabitha Tichenor for Newton County Clerk; Clarence Nowak, Marilyn Ruestman, Rick McCully and Donald “Buzz” Ball for Newton County Presiding Commissioner; Bill Lant and Bill Buening for state representative of the 131st district; Bill Reiboldt and Lynn Otey for state representative of the 130th district; Jeff Wisdom, Gary Nodler, Mike Moon, Jack Goodman and a representative for Billy Long for U.S. Representative District 7.
Each of the candidates had three minutes to talk about themselves and their goals.
Seneca area residents and business leaders had the opportunity to hear the candidates speak.
After the event, some of those in attendance were asked what they thought of the issues and the candidates.
“We just moved into the area on May 17,” said Lisa Broom, who lives in the Seneca-Racine area. “We are just trying to learn about the candidates.”
As far as what points she enjoyed about the evening, Broom said “the fairness.”
“Just the fairness of giving them three minutes to speak,” Broom said. “I wish we would have had a chance to ask them questions in front of everybody. Previous ones that I have been to have done that and that is really helpful because somebody else says something that you are thinking. This way, it was kind of hard to know their opinion on other things.”
Booths for the candidates were set up so that voters could go and ask one-on-one questions.
Broom noted she really did not know very much about the county level, but was interested in the state races.
“Abortion, health care reform, I just wanted to see what they thought about that,” she added. “It seems like most people are on the same page as I am, against that whole thing.”
Another person in attendance was Carl Brand, who lives northwest of Neosho.
“I enjoyed the fact that you got to hear all of the candidates speak and where they stood on the issues,” he said. “I guess my biggest issue is jobs. I see it as an issue nationwide, and I feel that it is a particular importance in Southwest Missouri, Newton and McDonald counties.”
