During election season, candidate forums held by the League of Women Voters are a good opportunity for voters to hear local candidates express why they want your vote. Not so this November. Several candidates running for Nevada Joint High School District declined or did not respond to the invitation. Some candidates for State Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives races in Nevada County also declined to participate. By League rules, they are not able to hold a candidate forum without the participation of at least two candidates in the same race.

A news release by the Voter Services arm of the local League of Women Voters of Nevada County reads, in part:

The League of Women Voters of Nevada County has confirmed its Midterm Elections 2022 Candidate Forums. Regretfully, the only forum we have been able to schedule is the Nevada County Board of Supervisors District 3, with candidates Patti Ingram Spencer and Lisa Swarthout, on Monday, September 19 at 6 p.m. at the Rood Center. Questions for this forum can be sent in advance to info@lwvnevadacounty.org

With the information provided by the League in their release, and the voter roll, here is the list of planned and now canceled forums with the candidates’ response to the League’s invitation. (Note that school board races are non-partisan)

  • Nevada Joint Union High School District Trustee Area 1
    • Jenny Scicluna (R): No response
    • Olivia Pritchett (D): Accepted
  • Nevada Joint Union High School District Trustee Area 2
    • Stephanie Leishman (R): Declined
    • Wendy Willoughby (D): Accepted
  • Nevada Joint Union High School District Trustee Area 5 (Unable to schedule due to travel plans)
    • Jay Adamson (R): Accepted
    • Ken Johnson (D): Accepted
  • U.S. Congress CA District 3
    • Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R): Declined
    • Dr. Kermit Jones (D): Accepted
  • CA State Assembly
    • Assemblywoman Megan Dahle (R): Declined
    • Belle Starr Sandwith (D): Accepted

The Grass Valley City Council forum is canceled “due to public safety concerns,” per the news release. The candidates running for the two sets are Hilary Hodge, Haven Caravelli and Matthew Coulter.

The League is currently trying to organize forums for Nevada City Measure W, the Nevada City Historic Neighborhoods District Initiative, and Nevada County Measure V. Dates are to be determined.