This is a community announcement from the League of Women Voters. It was not written by The Ithaca Voice. To submit community announcements, please send them to Matt Butler at mbutler@ithacavoice.org.

On November 7, 2023, for the first time in ten years, ALL the City of Ithaca Alderpersons, as well as the Mayor, will be up for re-election.

On Tuesday, June 27, the Democratic Party is holding 5 primaries to select the candidates they will endorse to run in the November Elections.

June 17 is the last date to register to vote as a Democrat in these primary elections.

League of Women Voters of Tompkins County, co-sponsored by Your Voice + Your Vote – Tompkins Civic Engagement Coalition (YV2), is holding a Candidates Forum on Thursday, June 8, from 7 – 9:00 p.m. at Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC). Come and learn about the candidates who are running in the contested primaries; in Ward 1 (for a 4-year term) – Kayla Matos and Cynthia Brock; in Ward 2 (for a 2-year term) – Aryeal Jackson, Wade Lalanne (West Fox) and Kris Haines-Sharp; in Ward 3 (for a 4-year term) – David Shapiro and Nathan Sitaraman; and in Ward 5 (for a 2-year term) – Clyde Lederman and D. Jason Houghton (and for a 4-year term) – Michelle Song and Margaret Fabrizio.

There are no Republican primaries.

The Forum will start at 7 p.m. in the Gym where you will find information about the candidates, the primaries on June 27, and the elections in November. Information will also be available about LWV, VOTE411, and YV2. All candidates will give their opening Statements in the Gym and this portion of the evening will be Live Streamed over YouTube. (Full details will be posted at https://lwvtompkins.org/).

Questions to candidates may be submitted both now and during the event at lwvtompkins.info@gmail.com. After making their opening statements, candidates for Wards 1, 2 & 3, and their audiences will move to different rooms in GIAC for a Q & A period and final statements, Ward 5 will stay in the Gym. Video recordings are planned for this portion of the Forum and will be posted at https://lwvtompkins.org/

Are you ready to Vote in these Primary Elections on Tuesday, June 27?

Learn about candidates running in City of Ithaca Democratic primaries on Thursday, June 8, 7 – 9 pm at a Candidates Forum co-sponsored by LWV Tompkins County and YV2 – Tompkins Civic Engagement Coalition at GIAC.

NOTE The last date to register to vote in these primaries, or change your party, is June 17, 2023.

For further information go to https://lwvtompkins.org, VOTE411.org, or http://votetompkins.com/