Kim Steinke, president of the League of Women Voters of the Midland Area, speaks at the League's annual meeting on May 25, 2022 at the Midland County Country Club.

School board candidates, in a highly contested race, will face off for the first time this election cycle. 

Midland Public Schools Board of Education candidates will take part in a forum at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the auditorium of the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. The event will kick off a series of forums for voters to learn more about each upcoming race. 

"It's important to learn how candidates feel about issues that will effect the whole community," said Jodie Gardner, a representative with the local American Association of University Women. "Even if they can't make it (to the event) there, I would encourage people to seek out the broadcast at their own convenience."

The League of Women Voters of the Midland Area will provide voters with an overview of the candidates and their positions in preparation for the upcoming general election in November. President Kim Steinke of the Midland Area League of Women Voters will moderate each forum. The local American Association of University Women will co-sponsor this series. 

The following candidates filed to run for a seat on the Midland school board, however, Michelle Plude Tschaikowsky told the Midland Daily News that she is not pursuing a campaign for the upcoming election:

The Midland Chapter of American Association of University Women have yet to hear back from three of the nine total candidates. Gardner declined a request to name the individuals.

The public is welcome to all events, but space is limited where the events are recorded. Attendees are asked to arrive by 6:45 p.m. Programs will be recorded for repeated showings on MCTV and will be available on the MCTV YouTube channel along with Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire devices, the Cablecast Community Media App on iOS and Android mobile devices.

The League of Women Voters is a national political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League is non-partisan and does not endorse or oppose candidates of political parties. Information on candidates in races at the local, state, and federal levels can be found at League of Women Voters online guide at www.VOTE411.org.

Efforts by the League of Women Voters to host a forum for the new Congressional District 8, Kildee (D) and Junge (R), have not been successful.

The other forums scheduled this October are as follows:

Midland County Commissioner candidates will answer questions at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 in the MCTV studio at the Grace A. Dow library.

Candidates are Connie Glave (D) versus Gaye Terwilliger (R) for District 4, Allison Wilcox (D) versus Jim Geisler (R) for District 5, Sarah Schulz (D) versus Eric Dorrien (R) for District 6 and Alayna Smith (D) versus Scott Noesen (R) for District 7.

Michigan State Senate District 35 candidates Kristen McDonald Rivet (D) and Annette Glenn (R) will speak at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, followed by Michigan State House District 95 candidates Matthew Dawson (D) and Bill G. Schuette (R), will participate in a forum in the city council chambers at Midland City Hall.

State Senate District 35 covers parts of Midland, Bay City and Saginaw counties. The State House District 95 includes Midland County and a small part of Gladwin County.

For more information about the League, contact Carol McPherson at 989-832-1623 or visit lwv-midlandarea.org.