POULSBO — The North Kitsap Herald and KitsapDailyNews.com host a candidates forum featuring the write-in candidates for Poulsbo City Council, Position 7, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 in the courtroom at Poulsbo City Hall.

BKAT will tape the forum for broadcast at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 2, 7:30 a.m. Nov. 3, 11 p.m. Nov. 4, and 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. The forum will also be available for viewing on KitsapDailyNews.com.

This forum is important because it’s an opportunity to meet two late candidates for City Council: Abby Garland and Bill Mash. Their candidacies are unique; John R. Bukowsky’s is the only name on the ballot for the position, but he withdrew his candidacy. If elected, he won’t serve. But because his name is on the ballot, Garland or Mash must get more votes than Bukowsky or the position will be considered vacant and the City Council will appoint someone to the position.

Garland, a mom of three with a master’s in postsecondary education, is concerned about affordability issues. Mash, an artist and author, is concerned about bolstering the downtown economy.

The forum will follow the rules used by the League of Women Voters: Each candidate will make an opening statement. The moderator will ask questions submitted by the audience on index cards, and each candidate will have the opportunity to answer. Each candidate will make a closing statement.

The general election is Nov. 7. City Council members are elected to four-year terms. They set policy, approve ordinances, and adopt the annual budget. Council members receive $6,000 to $9,000 a year, depending on when they were elected.