West Hartford Community Interactive will host a series of debates on Sept. 27, and Sept. 28, 2021 in advance of the November municipal election.

By Ronni Newton

The public is invited to participate in a series of debates hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford (LWVGH) and streamed live by West Hartford Community Interactive (WHCi) online, on their cable stations (Comcast channel 5 and Frontier channel 6098), and on their YouTube channel, on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28, 2021.

Debates can also be viewed live, and on demand, through Election Day.

Candidates running for municipal election in West Hartford this November represent numerous parties. Town Council and Board of Education candidates are running as Democrats, Republicans, and as part of the newly-reinstated A Connecticut Party. There is also a Town Council candidate running as a Libertarian and a petitioning candidate.

For the debates, the 15 Town Council candidates have been split into three separate groups, detailed in the schedule below, and will debate in sessions on Monday, Sept. 27 beginning at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8 p.m.

A total of six Board of Education candidates will debate on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 6 p.m.

The debates will also be recorded, and will be replayed through Election Day, which this year is Tuesday, Nov. 2. Polls will be open that day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for in-person voting, and absentee ballot voting will also be available. Secure ballot drop boxes, where absentee ballot applications as well as completed ballots can be dropped off, are already in place at the front of West Hartford Town Hall.

Secure Absentee Ballot boxes are in front of West Hartford Town Hall (near the parking lot) and can be used to drop off applications as well as completed ballots. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

“Extraordinary precautions are being taken at every voting district in Connecticut to protect the public and the election officials during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the LWVGH said in an announcement about the debates.

Links to register to participate in each of the virtual debates can be found below. Please note that you do not need to use the Zoom link if you want to observe the debate, only if you wish to submit questions.

Town Council Debate 1, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m.

• Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5rvog1BnTCqiPVwVvkXjQg
• YouTube link for viewing on and after Sept. 27: https://youtu.be/LasP3IeuK_A

Town Council Debate 2, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

• Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_By6oPGboRIOm3n5Ic02ijA
• YouTube link for viewing on and after Sept. 27: https://youtu.be/8zYFqNdtIHo

Town Council Debate 3, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.

• Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XelYmMILQ46e0lDYNQ5nWg
• YouTube link for viewing on and after Sept. 27: https://youtu.be/rIKZ57gXYuk

Board of Education Debate, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. –

• Zoom registration link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__u70euw-RR2l93jZ6LbHHA
• YouTube link for viewing on and after Sept. 28: https://youtu.be/RO78rQtx8mE

The LWVGH notes that the zoom registration link is for members of the public to be in the webinar, and especially for anyone who wishes to submit a written question to candidates during any of the debates.

The rosters of candidate and their debates times can be found below:

Board of Education   Sept. 28, 6 to 7:15 p.m.

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