MEDIA RELEASE

11 North Hawai’i Community Groups To Co-Host Candidate Forum This Thursday, June 7 With Major Candidates In U.S. House & Council Districts 1 & 9 Races

Farmers, Waimea and Kawaihae Hawaiian homesteaders, healthy community and early childhood advocates, business owners, Friends of the Library and several other North Hawai’i community groups – a total of 11 in all – are joining together to co-host the first of two election year voter education Candidate Forums beginning at 5:15 p.m., Thurs., June 7, 2012 in Waimea School cafeteria.

Everyone is invited to participate in what will be a “speed dating” format, which gives small clusters of voters an opportunity to talk-story with each individual candidate. There is no charge and healthy snacks will be provided by co-host groups along with complimentary hot Starbucks coffee and water.

Joining Waimea Community Association in co-hosting the forums are Friends of the Future/Tutu’s House, Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders Association, Kailapa Community Association (Kawaihae homesteaders), Peoples’ Advocacy For Trails Hawai’i (PATH), the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, North Hawai’i Rotary, Baby Steps To Stronger Big Island Families, Friends of Thelma Parker Memorial Library, Waimea Preservation Association and Lalamilo Farmlots Association.

The June 7 forum will spotlight three major races – U.S. House of Representatives and County Council – District 1 (wetside Waimea and Hamakua) and District 9 (dryside Waimea-North Kohala and Kawaihae-Puako-Waikoloa).

Candidates that have confirmed participation include:

U.S. House

• Rafael Del Castillo
• Tulsi Gabbard
• Mufi Hannemann
• Esther Kiaaina
• Robert Marx

Council District 1

• Larry Gering
• Jo Kim
• Valerie Poindexter
• Chelsea Yagong

Council District 9

• Bill Sanborn
• “Sonny” Shimaoka
• Margaret Wille

WCA’s second non-partisan candidate forum will be at 5:15 p.m., Thurs., July 12, also in the Waimea School cafeteria. It will spotlight the State Senate, State House, Mayoral and County Prosecutor races.

As always with WCA meetings, attendees are urged to bring a donation of cash or non-perishable foods to be given to the Waimea food pantry operated by Annunciation Catholic Church. Checks payable to the church for the food pantry are tax deductible.

For further information, call Sherman Warner (885-1725) or Patti Cook (937-2833).