Council candidate forum is tonight

Candidates for Havre City Council will introduce themselves to the public tonight at a candidate forum sponsored by the Havre Daily News.

The candidates in the two contested races will answer questions submitted by the public and by the Havre Daily News staff.

The two candidates for uncontested races will have five minutes to explain their positions on the issues.

The forum will begin at 7 p.m. in Hensler Auditorium at Montana State University-Northern.

Havre Daily News reporter Alex Ross will moderate in place of Havre High School civics teacher John Ita who traditionally presides at forums. Ita is out of town.

The lineup includes:

• Brian Barrows, Ward 2, and Andrew Brekke, Ward 4, are unopposed and will address the crowd for five minutes.

• Ed Matter and Douglas Vance, candidates in Ward 1, will answer questions from Ross.

• Caleb Hutchins and J.D. Cass, candidates in Ward 3, will answer questions from Ross.

Candidates in this election are running on a nonpartisan basis for the first time. In 2014, City Council and Havre voters decided to end the tradition of having political parties nominate candidates .