I would like to thank those fellow citizens who attended the March 12th evening’s City of Lake Geneva Election Forum. The Free Gourmet Cookie Event was well-received. As part of my contribution to my community, I offered an opportunity for the 1st and 3rd District Aldermen and Mayoral candidates to answer questions posed to them by moderator Adam St Marie. What a class act St Marie is. I am honored to work with him. His opening remarks were in reference to neighbors and the importance of raising his family in a community of neighbors. Questions of issues important to attendees as citizens, written in advance or upon entering Horticulture Hall, were carefully screened for relevance and appropriateness.

Three candidates collectively have been residents of the City of Lake Geneva for over 100 years. With that being said, new and long-time residents questioned why opposing mayoral candidate Joel Hoiland, who chose to throw his hat in the ring and run for mayor, declined the invitation. As before, the election forum organizer’s personal dealings with candidate Hoiland, in summary, were for him to accept the invitation to the forum event; his checklist of rules was to be abided by. Since when does a guest tell a hostess how to run her dinner party? Attempts to micro-manage are very impolite and insulting.

Comments were made by attendees if a candidate who is running for mayor cannot show up to openly debate the opponent, why then does he think he is even competent and qualified to hold the important position of mayor or be reelected as an alderman? So the question of the evening was “Where’s Joel?”

Regards again, Citizen Beverly Leonards here