On Thursday, Oct. 4, the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women co-sponsored their traditional forum for candidates for state House and Senate seats. This forum was for candidates for the seats within Bozeman proper - House districts 63 through 66 and Senate district 33.

The candidates in attendance were:

• Mike Phillips - Democrat, SD 33
• Tom Burnett - Republican, HD 63
• Franke Wilmer - Democrat, HD 63
• Tom Woods - Democrat, HD 64
• Nick Mahan - Republican, HD 65
• Kathleen Williams - Democrat, HD 65
• JP Pomnichowski - Democrat, HD 66
• Dave Ponte - Republican, HD 66

The recording of the forum is split into four segments - the first is the introduction and each candidate's introductory statement, the second is a response from each candidate to a question supplied by the League in advance, the third is a session of answers to questions from the audience, and the fourth is each candidate's closing statement.

Introductions and Opening Statements

First Question

Audience Questions

Closing Statements

On September 26 the MSU Sack Lunch Seminars presented an excellent discussion of some of the reasons women may be unlikely to register and vote, the impacts of the gender gap, how to increase women's political participation, and how to get involved. The panelists are all engaged in leading efforts to engage, empower and educate women about issues that matter to our lives, our communities, higher education and our communities. Panelists included Linsay Murdock, ASMSU Vice President; Dulaney Collins from AAUW; Mesa Starkey, student activist; and Jan Strout from Montana Women Vote.