As President of Kent News, Inc., the publishers of the Kent Good Times Dispatch, I am excited to be included in our first edition—and to have the opportunity to inform you about the First Selectman’s Debate we are sponsoring tonight (Friday) at 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the large meeting room in Town Hall.

After serving nine years as one of Kent’s Registrar’s of Voters, it became apparent to me that municipal elections elicit the least interest and draw out the fewest number of voters. Yet, it is town elections that have the most direct impact your daily life.

Local government determines your property taxes and what those taxes pay for, from schools to sidewalks, snow removal to emergency response, social services to recreation, to name just a few.

In just over a month since being asked to sponsor the debate, our small Board of Directors has met with the candidates to determine the date, time, place and rules, hired IT expert Michael Jay to provide the audio and video, obtained funding to pay his fee, and set up our own professional Zoom account with a Webinar add-on.

Steve Pener, quiz master for the library, agree to be moderator and we solicited questions from the public. Steve and our Vice President Deborah Rose curated the questions for the debate.  

In addition, we also completed a Voter Guide for this election, which you can find here. Zoom links for the debate were sent to those on our email list earlier this week. You can also register here.

I hope to see you there, either in-person or on Zoom. And remember, vote Tuesday, Nov. 7, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Hall. 

Karen Chase, President KNI