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'Lightning Rounds,' New Questions Promised at Upcoming 11th Ward Forum

By Casey Cora | January 27, 2015 5:38am
 Bridgeport's VFW Post 5079 will host a forum for 11th Ward aldermanic candidates on Feb. 5.
Bridgeport's VFW Post 5079 will host a forum for 11th Ward aldermanic candidates on Feb. 5.
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BRIDGEPORT — An upcoming aldermanic candidate forum at the local VFW hall won't hold as many voters as the previous two public sessions, and the candidates won't get the same old questions. 

"We'll focus only on the issues that neither debater has asked. We won't overstate the obvious, like [economic development] on Halsted Street," said Lisa Rivera, the moderator of the forum, which is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 5. 

The VFW Post 5079 hall is at 3200 S. May St. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. 

Rivera is the president of the VFW post's Ladies Auxiliary and serves at the organization's legislative chairwoman. She also heads up the Mothers for Peace anti-violence group in Back of the Yards.

She hosted a similar forum in 2011, when John Kozlar took on Ald. James Balcer.  

Like last time, she's planning to send candidates Patrick Daley Thompson, Maureen Sullivan and Kozlar the discussion topics in advance because she sees "no values in surprises."

For Rivera, that means covering new ground with her questions, which could range in topic from marijuana dispensaries to veteran's affairs.

The candidates, meanwhile, won't get to spin their wheels. Rivera said the forum will be "lightning-round style," with a chance for each candidate to summarize their candidacy at the end. 

The forum is first-come, first-seated, with a capacity for about 100 people. Anyone who can't squeeze in will be turned away. 

"I have to be very clear here. Whoever is seated at 7 p.m., that's it," she said. 

Kozlar and Sullivan have confirmed their attendance so far. 

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