The Newtown Bee has confirmed the incumbents and challengers participating the newspaper's free annual Candidates Forum, which will be conducted Tuesday, October 18, from 7:30 to 9 pm, on stage at Edmond Town Hall Theatre, 45 Main Street. There will be a pre-event meet-and-greet session opening at 7 pm.

Those confirming participation are:

106th District incumbent Representative Mitch Bolinsky, and Democratic challenger Eva B. Zimmerman;

Second District challengers Republican William Duff and Democrat Raghib Allie-Brennan; and

State Senate District 28 incumbent Republican Tony Hwang, and Democratic challenger Philip Dwyer.

Since 112th District incumbent J.P. Sredzinski - who represents several southern Newtown neighborhoods - is running unopposed, he will not be participating.

New Format: Residents Sought For Participation

The 2016 forum will depart from the moderated question and answer format that has occurred in previous years, to a town hall-style featuring resident constituents on stage with the candidates, asking their own questions in a somewhat less formal dialog format.

As such, the newspaper is seeking to hear from residents who are interested in being part of the event and articulating their own questions to candidates in a more personal and intimate setting. Anyone interested in being considered for on stage participation is asked to contact Editor Nancy Crevier by e-mail (editor@thebee.com) and to include a phone number, as well as one or two draft questions. Please include the phrase "2016 Candidates Forum" in the subject line.

Residents may also physically drop off or mail, via US Postal Service, a note of interest, along with one or two example questions to Ms Crevier c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, no later than Thursday, September 22.

The forum is being hosted as a community service by The Bee Publishing Company, Inc.

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