OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa League of Women Voters will hold a forum for primary candidates for city office on Monday, September 18, 2023, at City Hall. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers.  Five city council candidates — Cyan Bossou, 1620 Greenwood Drive, Keith Caviness, 2851 Oak Meadow Drive, Joe Damerval, 233 West Alta Vista Ave., Bill Hoffman, Jr., 922 N. Green St., and Marcia McDaniel, 321 W. Keota St., will be on the ballot. Ms. McDaniels has declined to participate in the forum.

All candidates will be vying for two council seats during the primary election to be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.  A primary election is necessary to reduce the number of candidates to four for the general election. The candidates will be allowed to make an opening statement, have equal time to answer questions, and make a closing statement.  The League will ask the first question, with audience questions to follow. As members of the public enter the council chambers they may write a question on a provided card.  Members of the public may also submit questions prior to the forum via the Ottumwa League of Women Voters Facebook page. Questions must be received by 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 17. League members will review the cards for redundancy.  All cards must be signed.

The forum will be live streamed on GOTV as well as the city’s YouTube channel.  The media will be able to hear the instructions to the candidates at 6:15.  Although school board candidates will also be on the November ballot, those candidates do not participate in the primary election.  A second forum that includes school board candidates will be held before the general election.