The American Liberty Forum of Ramona is hosting a candidates forum that includes presentations and a Q&A session this Saturday in Ramona.
Doors will open for the free Sept. 28 event at 11 a.m. and the forum starts at noon at the Ramona Mainstage theater, 626 Main St.
Candidates who plan to participate include Andrew Hayes, who is competing against Carl DeMaio in the state Assembly 75th District race; and incumbent Joel Anderson, who is competing against Gina Jacobs in the county Board of Supervisors District 2 race.
Ramona Unified School District School Board Trustee Area 3 incumbent Dawn Perfect, who is running against challenger Stephanie Cooter; and Trustee Area 4 incumbent Daryn Drum, who is competing against challenger John Rajcic, are also expected to participate.
Unopposed candidates expected to participate are Ramona Municipal Water District incumbents Vice President Jeff Lawler of Division 1 and Secretary Jim Piva of Division 3.
Ramona Community Planning Group candidates and incumbents are not expected to attend as there are eight candidates who will automatically fill eight open seats.
The candidates forum moderator will be Dan Summers, a Ramona resident of 38 years and ALFOR chair.
Julie Gallant
American Liberty Forum of Ramona Chairman Dan Summers to host candidates forum. (Courtesy Dan Summers)
Summers said invitations for presenting and answering questions from the audience were only sent to representatives and potential representatives of Ramona.
He added that it can be challenging to attract candidates to Ramona when they often have larger audiences in the territories they intend to represent.
“They can go to El Cajon or North Park or Rancho Bernardo and have a big crowd and a bigger impact than they can in little old Ramona,” said Summers, noting that it is important for voters to be informed about the candidates before deciding who they want to represent them. “It’s understandable, we don’t take it personally.”
Early in the program, a brief presentation about the U.S. Constitution will be provided by Ramona resident Deborah Flook, who gives lectures about the document throughout the United States.