Chowchilla residents had the opportunity to take a closer look at state and county candidates running for office in the June 8 election.</p><p>Two Candidate Forums were held last week at the Chowchilla-Madera County Fairgrounds. Both forums were hosted by the Chowchilla District Chamber of Commerce and the Chowchilla-Madera County Fair.</p><p>Gary Giersch served as moderator for both the state and county forums.</p><p>On Wednesday night 13 candidates from the U.S. Representative 19th District, State 12th and 14th Senate and 25th and 29th Assembly Districts met approximately 70 potential voters, which included a Chowchilla Union High School Civics class.</p><p>Running to fill Congressman George Radanovich's shoes and present at the forum was Les Marsden, a Democratic; Larry Westerlund, a Republican; Jim Patterson, a Republican, Loraine Goodwui, a Democratic and Jeff Denham, a Republican.</p><p>Marsden opened by saying, "We all care about America." He quickly noted that he was running as a candidate of the people.</p><p>Westerlund was born and raised in Fresno. He is a member of the Fresno City Council.</p><p>Jim Patterson, former mayor of Fresno, said he is running for Congress because America is in trouble. He then addressed the students in the audience. He told them he wanted to give them a better country. "For every $3 we are spending the government is spending $5," he stated.</p><p>"I want to go to Washing to do a few things well," he said.</p><p>"To balance the budget provided some fiscal common sense, limit government and pay more attention to the Constitution."</p><p>The next candidate for the 19th Congressional District to speak was Loriane Goodwin. Goodwin said she chose to run for office when she noticed that the valley was disintegrating. "My goal in running is to be a role model," she stated. When discussing the Constitution, Goodwin noted it was not written for minorities. "Those who wrote the constitution were racist," she stated.</p><p>Jeff Denham had two engagements Wednesday but did arrive at the forum in time to address the audience. He focused on water, spending and private industry. "I stand strong on principles," he stated.</p><p>Running for the 25th District Assembly seat and present at the forum were Janice Keating, Kristin Olsen, Bill Conrad, and Kurt Vander Weide.</p><p>Keating, a former Modesto City Council member stated, "I am running for Assembly to get government off our backs, to halt runaway spending and to make jobs and economic development our highest priorities."</p><p>Olsen, current Modesto City Council member, also indicated she was fed up with the disfunction of government. Two of her top priorities are to create jobs and she supports more local control.</p><p>Bill Conrad said that when he got back from active duty with the Armed Forces he was shocked at the state of the nation's economy. "No more compromise," he stated.</p><p>Kurt Vander Weide was born and raised in the Valley. He has worked in public service for 12 years. He began his career working with Assemblyman George House.</p><p>"I recognized California was headed for a disaster," Vander Weide stated.</p><p>Vander Weide told the CUHS students present at the forum that they were the Generation Debt. "You are going to be paying for this debt for the rest of you lives," he stated. He then told them that they were the future.</p><p>Bob Whalen and Michael Esswein, both running for the 29th Assembly District were also in attendance.</p><p>Esswein introduced himself as a Democrat, but not the typical Democrat. "I come from a blue collar family. "We need to put Californians back to work in the private sector," he stated.</p><p>Whalen talked about the ABCs of government; Accountability, Budget Stability and Crime Prevention.</p><p>Whalen is a former Clovis mayor.</p><p>Heidi Fuller and Tom Marsella, running for the 14th State Senate District.</p><p>Fuller said, "We need to quit electing people who don't have the backbone to standing up for what they believe in."</p><p>Marsella discussed state taxes. A topic that students in the audience picked up on was his position of giving high school students an allowance for attending school.</p><p>Following opening statements candidates were asked a variety of question presented by Giersch from the audience.They were then all given three minutes to make a closing statement.