The Marion Chamber of Commerce and Marion Economic Development Corporation will host a series of candidate forums for school board and city council. These forums are an important platform for candidates to share their perspective and for residents and business leaders to meet the candidates who are seeking office.

The schedule will be as follows:

5:00 – 6:00 pm – City Council and Mayor Open House

6:15 – 7:15 pm - Linn-Mar School Board Candidate Forum

7:30 - 8:15 pm – Marion Independent School Board Candidate Forum

Marion City Council and Mayoral races are uncontested. Candidates running for reelection include:

• Mayor, Nicolas AbouAssaly
• At Large, Steve Jensen
• Ward 1, Gage Miskimen
• Ward 2, Grant Harper
• Ward 3, Will Brandt

All have been invited to participate in an open house to visit with and answer questions from residents and business leaders.

The first hour of the forum will feature Linn-Mar School Board candidates. Invited candidates include Barry Buchholz (Incumbent), Justin Foss, Katie Lowe Lancaster, Tom Law, Brittania Morey (Incumbent), Kevin Slaman, Laura Steffeck, and Jodi Treharne. An additional 15 minutes was added to the Linn-Mar forum to accommodate sufficient time for the large number of candidates.

The second forum will feature Marion Independent School Board candidates. Invited candidates include Denise Allison (Incumbent), Jon Fitch (Incumbent), Carl Lantermans (Incumbent), and Michelle Rains.

The forums will follow a question and answer format of predetermined questions. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the forum. The combined City and School elections will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Please submit audience questions here. Please note that not all audience questions will be asked due to time constraints.