Progress Oshkosh Forum Tonight

Progress Oshkosh’s candidate forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Union Theater. The forum is open to the public.

Common council and mayoral candidates will begin at 6 p.m., and will be followed by school board candidates at about 7:15 to 7:30 p.m. The university staff and public safety office will be clearing parking lots #15, 32 and 34 for use without a permit for the evening of the forum only.

Each candidate will be allowed two minutes for an introduction and opening statement. Then three separate questions will be asked, with each candidate allowed two minutes to respond. Following each round of candidate responses, everyone will receive an additional minute for rebuttal. The forum will end with each candidate afforded two minutes for a closing statement.

A random drawing will determine the order of response for the first question. The sequence will be reversed for the second question, and then scrambled for the third question.

Three questions for the Oshkosh Common Council and Mayoral candidates

1. How do you feel the accountability of the city manager should be evaluated? Has the council done an adequate job of assessing the performance of the city manager and providing substantive feedback to the community?

2. The city has already used tax incremental financing to facilitate much of the improvement in the Marion Road Redevelopment area. How much of an additional role should TIF funds play in any future development proposal for the Fox River front in that location?

3. Do you support public funding for a bridge lighting beautification project in Oshkosh? If so, how would you propose paying for the city’s share?

Three questions for the Oshkosh Area Board of Education candidates

1. How do you feel the accountability of the superintendent and administrative staff should be evaluated? Has the board done an adequate job of assessing the performance of district leadership and providing substantive feedback to the community?

2. What is the most critical issue the district's long-range facilities plan should accomplish, and how will you keep the long-range facilities planning process moving forward?

3. What do you feel the school board’s role should be in fostering public-private partnerships to address the capital improvement demands the district will face in coming years?