City Commission Candidate Forum to Be Broadcast Live March 16

The Lake Wales City Commission Candidate Forum is still scheduled for Monday, March 16 but with a change of venue and other modifications to restrict attendance. The event will be videotaped and broadcast on Facebook Live to grant public access while limiting group contact due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus.

Rotary on the Ridge is coordinating the event, which now will be held in the community room at the Ouellette Law Firm, 151 E. Central Ave. in downtown Lake Wales. Both candidates for Seat 5, incumbent Commissioner Robin Gibson and challenger Bob Wood, have confirmed plans to attend.

Brandon Alvarado, education coordinator for the Lake Wales Arts Council, will moderate the event, which will run from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Participants are asked to gather no later than 5:15 p.m. The Facebook LIVE broadcast will start at 5:30 p.m. and can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/RotaryontheRidge/ It also will be posted to the Facebook page so those who miss the live broadcast can access it. The forum also will be videotaped and posted on You Tube.

The forum format will include 3-minute opening statements and 2-minute closings by each candidate. Alvarado will ask questions submitted in advance; each candidate will have up to 90 seconds to answer each question, and the moderator may ask follow-up questions. Proposed questions may be submitted in advance online at https://tinyurl.com/LakeWales316 or emailed to [email protected].

In addition to Rotary on the Ridge, event co-sponsors are the Lake Wales Arts Council and Lakewalesnews.net. For more information, contact Chevon Baccus at 863-651-1065 or email [email protected].