Candidates for Hopkinsville City Council took part in the first of a series of public forums Monday evening, as the League of Women Voters of Hopkinsville began its slate of debates ahead of the May primary election.
The event, held at the Hopkinsville Municipal Building, featured candidates in contested races for Wards 9 and 10 and marked the opening night of multiple forums scheduled throughout April.
In the Republican primary for Ward 9, challenger Jamie Lienberger appeared alongside incumbent Brittanie Bogard in a head-to-head forum. The candidates answered questions submitted by community members and screened in advance by the League.
The Republican primary for Ward 10 followed, with candidates Michael Velez and Steve Keel participating in a separate discussion focused on issues facing the city and their respective campaigns.
The final forum of the evening centered on the Democratic primary for Ward 9. Candidates Duane Shepard and Monike Love were present and took part in the discussion. Candidate Ardell Owens did not attend.
The forums are organized as a nonpartisan effort to provide voters with information about candidates seeking local office. According to the League of Women Voters, questions are gathered from the public prior to each event and are not shared with candidates in advance.
The Hopkinsville forums are open to the public and are also made available through an online livestream.
Additional forums are scheduled for April 9, April 13 and April 16, and will include candidates for Hopkinsville mayor, other city council wards and several county offices, including sheriff, property valuation administrator and magistrate seats on the Christian County Fiscal Court.
The primary election is scheduled for May 19.
