Manassas Park High Hosts City Council Candidate Forum

Candidates for Manassas Park City Council will have to answer to some their youngest constituents today during an election forum at Manassas Park Middle School.

Seniors in all of Manassas Park High School’s government courses came up with six or seven questions to direct to the candidates; each candidate will give timed responses to five student questions, Manassas Park High School teacher Daniel Forgas said.

Each candidate will also give a closing statement.

The candidates are:former and city council candidate Jeanette Rishell.

Eric LeHew, a Manassas Park High government teacher, will moderate the event, which is only open to students, Forgas said.

“The event is being held so the seniors that will be new voters in this election will have an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates they will be voting for,” Forgas wrote in an email to Patch. “This will definitely be a learning experience for all the seniors.”

After the forum, the government teachers are conducting a mock election for the students; this will bring a sense of realism to the entire class and not just those eligible to vote, Forgas added.

The “real”  general election is Nov. 6. For more information about voting and elections in Manassas Park, contact the Manassas Park Voter Registrar’s Office.