NAPC candidate Forum Lake Worth Playhouse on January 30

Dear Neighbors, The Neighborhood Association Presidents Council (NAPC) is proud to once again sponsor a Candidate Forum at the Lake Worth Playhouse on Monday, January 30, 2017 at 6pm. The Playhouse is located in downtown Lake Worth at 713 Lake Avenue. All candidates that will appear on the ballot are most cordially invited to participate.

Please be advised that the City Clerk's office has been informed that seated commission members participating in the forum might discuss, or be asked questions related to issues that might come before the Commission. The City Clerk's office will provide the proper public notice. Other members of the commission, not on the ballot, may be in attendance but will not participate in the Forum. Minutes of the meeting will be taken by the NAPC Secretary and a copy will be provided to the City Clerk following the event. The forum is open to the public at no charge.

These procedures are in keeping with the Florida Government in the Sunshine law. Compliance with these procedures renders the Forum a public meeting at which Commissioners can answer questions and discuss issues that might foreseeably come before the City Commission.

The format for the evening will include a welcome from NAPC Chair, Jon Faust, Introduction of the Candidates and the Moderator (yet to be selected), a review of the Forum Format and Rules, a two minute opening statement from all candidates, a question and answer period followed by a three minute closing statement from all candidates. Each candidate will have a timekeeper assigned by the NAPC who will be positioned in the front row with signs visible to the candidates and the audience showing how much time is left to answer each question; one minute, 30 seconds and STOP. Questions may be formatted as Yes or No or may allow for timed responses and rebuttals. Timed responses may vary from 30 seconds to 90 seconds. Rebuttals may be limited in number and time allotted. All questions will be asked of all candidates.

Questions for the forum will be formulated and finalized by delegated members of the NAPC, who may solicit proposed questions from their Neighborhood Association membership prior to the forum in any way they choose, i.e. via their email distribution lists, at a neighborhood meeting, via committee formed for that purpose, etc. Questions will not be taken from the audience at the forum. The NAPC is deeply committed to presenting an informative and fair opportunity for our neighbors to hear from our candidates on relevant issues before the City. Under no circumstances will the NAPC provide candidates or anyone else with a list of finalized questions prior to the event.

Candidates are kindly asked to remind your supporters that we are guests of the Lake Worth Playhouse. No campaign yard signs, banners or other signs will be allowed inside the theatre. Candidates or their supporters may distribute literature, palm cards, brochures, flyers, etc. outside the Playhouse as there will be no table set up inside for stacks of literature. Candidates are responsible for collecting any literature left behind after the forum by those in attendance.

Please be advised as a public meeting, anyone from the public or the press may photograph, video or record the event. All those in attendance will be asked to courteously refrain from flash photography and to be mindful not to block the view of the audience when doing so and will be reminded if the need arises. The Forum may be live-streamed on the NAPC facebook page.

Candidates only are asked to arrive at the Playhouse at 5:00 pm for a sound and lighting check. Only candidates will be admitted inside the Playhouse at that time. Candidates' advisors, managers and family members will be allowed to enter with the public when the doors open at 5:45. After the sound and lighting check, you will be escorted off stage to a "green room" where you will all receive a packet with the Forum Format and Rules along with a statement confirming that you have not received a copy of the questions which you will be asked to acknowledge with your signature. Candidates will be returned to the stage as a group when the introductions are made following the Welcome by the NAPC Chair. Each candidate will have a podium, microphone and a chair. Chilled bottled water will be provided. Candidates may have written notes but no cell phones, tablets, Ipads or portable computers will be allowed on stage. A light supper and soft drinks will be provided for all the candidates in the "green room" before the forum.

This email has been sent to all candidates, to the officers of the NAPC and the City Attorney via blind copy. Therefore, please reply to this email as soon as possible to acknowledge that you have received it and whether or not you will be participating in the forum. In addition, all candidates are asked to provide a short bio or statement (200 words or less) to be included in the printed program that will be distributed to everyone in the audience. Again, this email has been sent blind copy, so you may safely reply to this email with your acknowledgement or any questions. The deadline for submitting a bio is Monday, January 23, 2017. Submissions that exceed 200 words will be edited. If you choose to submit your bio/statement as an attachment, please use word format, not pdf. A reminder of the deadline for submitting a bio/statement (again, not to exceed 200 words) will be sent to all candidates on Monday, January 16, 2017.

The NAPC is incorporated in the State of Florida as a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for neighbors to be well informed and engaged in their Neighborhood Associations, working together to make Lake Worth the place we can always be proud to call our home. The NAPC neither endorses nor opposes any candidate. Thank you for stepping up to serve our City as a candidate in the March 14, 2016 municipal election for Lake Worth City Commissioners, District 2 and 4.

Mary Lindsey
Secretary, Neighborhood Association Presidents' Council www.lwnapc.com