Arlington Heights candidates face off in upcoming forums
A series of public candidate forums are planned in the coming weeks in the contested elections for Arlington Heights mayor, trustee and other local races.
The free events will give voters a chance to hear the candidates talk about their competing visions ahead of the April 1 municipal election, officials say.
The Downtown Arlington Heights Business Alliance is hosting a forum for the eight candidates for village trustee from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St.
Running for four available four-year terms are Martin Bauer, Jim Bertucci, Colin Gilbert, Michele Hunter, Argie Karafotias, Bill Manganaro, Carina Santa Maria and Greg Zyck.
Then a week later on Tuesday, March 4 at the same time and place, the downtown alliance will host a forum for the three mayoral candidates: Jon Ridler, Tom Schwingbeck and Jim Tinaglia.
Moderators will ask questions on a wide range of issues, including the redevelopment of Arlington Park, the future of the downtown, what the candidates view as the major issues facing Arlington Heights and how they would tackle those issues.
The League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect and Buffalo Grove will host a forum for the mayor and trustee candidates from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the Arlington Heights village hall board room, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road.
Candidates for mayor will speak from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by an intermission, and then the trustee candidates will speak from 7:20 to 9 p.m.
The event will be moderated by a league member who is not a voter in Arlington Heights. Members of the audience will be invited to submit written questions.
The forum will be recorded for later viewing at lwvah.org and on YouTube.
The league will also host a forum for those running for Arlington Heights Memorial Library board and Wheeling Township board from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 2, in the library’s Hendrickson Room, 500 N. Dunton Ave.
Candidates for library trustee will speak from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by an intermission, and then the township trustee candidates will speak from 2:30 to 4 p.m.