Candidates Speak Out on Children’s Issues

              Sixteen northern Idaho candidates vying for seats in the state Legislature will gather at the Harding Center in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday, Sept. 16, to share with the public their stances on issues and policies affecting children and families.

              Five other communities in the state and many throughout the nation will join Coeur d’Alene in the Step Up for Kids Candidates’ Forum on Tuesday. The idea is to draw candidate attention to the millions of children who live in poverty, lack health insurance, are alone after school, suffer abuse or neglect, have no early–learning opportunities or have a parent in prison.

              All legislative candidates in the five northern counties have been invited to attend. People in the audience will submit questions that a panel will organize and moderator Mike Patrick, managing editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press, will ask candidates. Candidates will have a maximum of three minutes to respond.

              A panel of representatives from local organizations and the media may ask additional questions to draw out specific information about candidates’ policy positions.

              The non-partisan forum is 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Harding Family Center, 411 N. 15th St., in Coeur d’Alene.

              National sponsors of Step Up for Kids Day include Voices for America’s Children and the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds. Local sponsors include The League of Women Voters, Panhandle Health District’s Child Care Resource and Referral, Kootenai Alliance for Children and Families, United Way of Kootenai County and North Idaho College Head Start.