Local candidates on the ballot for the upcoming November general election gathered in Salina Monday night to answer questions. A large crowd converged at Ad Astra Books and Coffee House for a candidate forum, hosted by the Salina Area Workers Coalition.

To begin the evening, seven state house of Representative candidates answered questions. Topics included Kansas tax issues, school funding, and even Donald Trump’s candidacy for president.

Alan LaPolice, independent candidate for Kansas’s District 1 House Seat in Washington DC, then spoke and answered questions. Among other things, LaPolice said that as an independent it will be much easier to work with both parties to get things accomplished, something that is nearly impossible for Republicans and Democrats to do right now given the current political climate. LaPolice’s two opponents did not attend.

Register of Deeds candidate Rebecca Seeman, running unopposed, then took the stage along with County Clerk candidate Jamie Doss. Doss addressed an issue raised by her opponent Phil Black, who did not attend the event. She cited human error as the reason that votes were lost, and initially not counted, in a couple of recent elections.

County Commission candidates then answered questions ranging from law enforcement issues to the budget issues.

State Board of Education candidates followed, before the evening ended with state senate candidates answering questions.

The general election in Kansas will be held Tuesday, November 8th.