News and Thoughts
Members of the League of Women Voters, St. Cloud Area (LWVSCA) met many community members at candidate forums and tabling events during the 2024 election season. We enjoyed discussing current issues and addressing questions about elections, voting law and voter registration. Now with the election season winding down, we offer a few observations and expressions of gratitude. The state of Minnesota was again a leader in voter turnout, a testament to our civic involvement. We are grateful for the dedicated work of election officials and poll workers. Thanks to our state's well organized procedures, balloting and tabulating went smoothly, and we underwent a fair and secure election.
The November meeting below is complete.
Our next monthly meeting will be held Wednesday, January 8, 2025
"Separation of Church and State in Education: Court Interpretations of the Establishment and Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment, and Application of the First Amendment in Minnesota Classrooms"
Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 1:00 pm
Great River Regional Library, Bremer Room
The 2024 forums we conducted in preparation for the General Election are listed below. The list will remain available through the end of the fiscal year.
Our first sponsored event in September was an information forum regarding a Stearns County ballot question. All events were open to the public and included questions from the audience. "Recorded" events have a link to the respective YouTube sites where saved. Any recordings made by others are considered unofficial and not representative of LWVSCA.
Public Information Forum RECORDED
"Ballot Question: Proposed New Stearns County Justice Center"
Monday, September 16, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
St. Cloud Regional Library, Mississippi Room
Stearns County voters will have a question on their November 5, 2024, General Election Ballot regarding the financing of a new Justice Center. (*) The League of Women Voters, St. Cloud Area, moderated a panel of experts who discussed the background and planning that led to this ballot question and what voting “yes” or “no” means.
Panel Members:
Dr. Michael Williams, Stearns County Administrator
Mr. Steve Soyka, Stearns County Sheriff
Ms. Janelle Kendall, Stearns County Attorney
Mr. Randy Schreifels, Stearns County Auditor/Treasurer
Ms. Tarryl Clark, Chairperson of the Stearns County Board of Commissioners
CANDIDATE FORUMS
Tuesday, September 24, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
District #742 School Board candidates RECORDED
District Administration Building, Waite Park
Thursday, September 26, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
MN House District 14 candidates
Whitney Senior Center, St Cloud
Tuesday, October 8, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
St. Cloud Mayor candidates
Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud
Thursday, October 10, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
St. Cloud City Council candidates RECORDED
City Hall Council Chambers, St. Cloud
Tuesday, October 15, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
MN House District 13 candidates RECORDED
Sartell Community Center, Sartell
All candidates for the respective races were invited. Forums are conducted according to policies and procedures agreed upon in advance to ensure a fair and open process. The general public was invited to attend and submit written questions relevant to the office being sought.
To request information about an LWVSCA event, use the email icon in the box below. Please send any inquiries about an event at least two hours or more before the start time.
