Election Information

In keeping with the idea that electing an official to represent us should not necessarily be based on which candidate has the most money to campaign, ourvalleysprings.com has created this forum. It is free for the use of the comittees to elect the candidates. The idea is to have a place where the candidates can voice their opinions and listen to those who they would like to represent. There are many features available here. Blogs forums, mailing lists. This should make for a great opportunity to connect with the people of district 5. If you are helping to promote a candidate we suggest making use of the invite a friend link from within the candidates group.

Candidates

Reprinted with Permission by Valley Springs News By Nick Baptista The first public face-off between the three candidates running for District 5 supervisor is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 10 at the Rancho Calaveras Community Clubhouse. All three candidates - incumbent Victoria Erickson and challengers Mike McDaniel and Russ Thomas - have indicated they will attend the Meet the Candidates Night being hosted by The Valley Springs News. The format for the forum includes opening statements by each candidate, questions from the media and questions from the audience. Each candidate will have three minutes for their introductory statement and will be limited to two minutes per question. Prior to the forum, the candidates will draw numbers to determine the order they will speak. In addition, the order will rotate through each phase of the program. "This is the first candidates' night we've hosted since buying the newspaper last year and we're looking forward to a well-publicized and well attended event that will be beneficial to the voters of District 5 in making an informed choice when they go to the polls on June 6," said Nick Baptista, editor and co-owner of The Valley Springs News. Opening statements and media questions are scheduled for the first half of the forum. The public will be encouraged to submit questions in writing in marked boxes throughout the room. The media will screen the questions for redundancy and items not pertinent to the election and the candidates in the second half of the forum will address the public's questions. Refreshments will be served during a brief intermission in the program. If a candidate receives 50 percent plus one vote in June, the race is over. Otherwise, the two top vote getters in June will face one another in a run-off election in November. The new four-year term for District 5 supervisor will begin in January 2007.