(UPDATE 11/3/16: This event has been canceled by unanimous decision of the mayoral and city council candidates.)

With Election Day being just a week from today, Benicia’s mayoral and City Council candidates are coming under heavy scrutiny. Information is constantly being circulated, primarily through campaign mailers, that may or may not be true. Benicia’s Open Government Commission will be giving candidates a chance to respond to these claims through its “Final Word” forum.

Per Benicia Municipal Code 1.42.110, which was passed by the city council in July 2011, the Open Government Commission will be hosting “The Final Word,” to give candidates in contested elections a chance to respond to what they deem “hit pieces” in the last two weeks of the election. These could include not only mailers but possibly also letters or op-eds published in the Herald or other area newspapers.

According to City Attorney Heather McLaughlin, emails have been sent out to all candidates in the contested elections. However, if the candidates agree that there is no need for the forum to be held, it will be canceled.

“If the forum goes forward, there will be an opportunity for the candidates to address questions and last-minute hit pieces if there are any,” McLaughlin said.

If the forum is held, it will take place at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5 in the Council Chambers of City Hall, located at 250 East L St. It will also be broadcast live on Cable Channel 27. The public is invited to attend, and candidates and residents will also have a chance to compliment candidates who ran campaigns that were fair and issues-oriented. Audience members will be able to write questions related to circulated hit pieces on cards, which the candidates will have one minute to respond to. The forum would be conducted by Larry Fullington, a commissioner for the Open Government Commission.

“It gives the opportunity for the viewers and the audience to see how the candidates address hit pieces, maybe explain why something’s not true,” McLaughlin said.

Side note: the Herald will continue to publish election-related letters and op-eds through the Friday, Nov. 4 edition. Afterwards, no letters related to the Benicia elections will be accepted until after Election Day. This way, candidates can truly have “the final word.”

Candidates must decide by 9 a.m. Friday if they want the forum to be held. Contact McLaughlin at Hmclaughlin@ci.benicia.ca.us afterwards to see if the forum is still scheduled.

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