In advance of Tuesday's primary election, the Mexico Audrain County League of Women Voters will host a "stump speaking" event for various office seekers Thursday at the Jaycee Shelter in Mexico.

"There are some pretty good local races," stated Alice Leonatti, voter service chairperson of the local chapter. Noting that 25 candidates have been invited to the event, which is free, open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m., she added: "It's not going to be a debate format, just because of the number of people that are hopefully going to show up. Each person is only going to be given three minutes to speak, so it is strictly going to be a factual kind of information thing that they're providing."

Specifically, Leonatti said candidates for U.S. representative, state representative and Audrain County offices have been invited. Office seekers who attend will be asked to state qualifications for a respective position, and – if elected – two major issues he or she specifically intends to address.

Several races are being contested in Tuesday's primary, with area residents asked to help decide various Democratic, Libertarian and Republican nominees, including: District 9 U.S. representative, District 9 state representative, District 10 state representative, District 21 state representative, eastern district Audrain County commissioner, western district Audrain County commissioner, South Fork township committeewoman, and county assessor, coroner, public administrator, and sheriff.
A sample ballot listing all the local candidates, as well as various statewide office seekers, will be listed in Thursday's edition of The Ledger.

Leonatti – who will serve as informal moderator of the "stump speaking" event – emphasized that the League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization which does not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office. Instead, she said its principal purpose is to "promote informed voting."

While the local organization has often conducted informative events in advance of November general election contests, as well as contested school board and city council elections, the voter service chairperson stated Mexico Audrain League of Women Voters has generally not served as the sponsoring organization for primary-related elections. "This is the first time in a long time that we've (sponsored) anything in the primary," she said.

Meantime, to further facilitate interest in Thursday's event, Mexico Noon Lions Club is hosting an ice cream social beforehand, beginning at 6 p.m. Its cost is $5 per person, and Leonatti stated candidates are invited to meet-and-greet citizens in advance of the actual "stump speaking" event. She added: "Following the speaking, there should be time for candidates to mingle informally with those attending."

Regarding upcoming League-sponsored events, Leonatti stated, "We'll discuss that as the year goes along," especially concerning possible general election debates. "But we'll be doing a lot of other voter registration things, as the League always does."