Downeast

The Democracy Forum

Beginning in 2004 and every four years since, the League of Women Voters - Downeast in cooperation with WERU FM has produced and sponsored a series of radio programs on topics in participatory democracy called the Democracy Forum.

Beginning in 2017, just because there's so much to talk about, we continued the conversations for the first time into a non-election year, and we've been doing it every since.

In September, 2018, the Democracy Forum won top honors from the Maine Association of Broadcasting for public affairs radio.

Broadcasts may be heard from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the third Friday of most months. Listen live at WERU Community Radio, 89.9 FM Blue Hill, 99.9 FM Bangor, streaming live on the web at WERU FM.

Here is information about current programs. Programs from the 2016, 2012, and 2008 archives are also available online.

We welcome volunteers who are interested in planning and producing the programs. This great project has taught us so much and made friends of our colleagues. For more information, contact us at downeast@lwvme.org

Election 2020: Candidate Forums

House District 132 Candidate Forum

Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00 PM

Watch a recording of this event here. 

Featured candidates Nicole Grohoski (D) and Michelle Kaplan (R). The forum was moderated by Cyndi Wood, Managing Editor of the Ellsworth American. This event was sponsored by the Ellsworth American and the League of Women Voters Downeast. 

House District 136 Candidate Forum

Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 PM

Watch a recording of this event here. 

Featured candidates Antonio Blasi (D) and William Faulkingham (R). (Including the towns Gouldsboro, Hancock, Mariaville, Osborn, Sorrento, Steuben, Sullivan, Waltham and Winter Harbor, plus the unorganized territories of East Hancock and Fletchers Landing Township.) 

The forum was moderated by Cyndi Wood, Managing Editor of the Ellsworth American. This event is sponsored by the Ellsworth American and the League of Women Voters Downeast. 

House District 135 Candidate Forum (Bar Harbor, Lamoine, and Mount Desert)

Monday, October 12 at 6:00 PM

Watch a recording of this event here.

Featured candidates Benjamin Meiklejohn (GI), Timothy Oh (R), and Lynn Willams (D). The forum was moderated by Faith DeAmrose, Managing Editor of the Mount Desert Islander. This event was sponsored by the Mount Desert Islander and the League of Women Voters Downeast. 

Senate District 7 Candidate Forum (Hancock County)

Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 PM

Watch a recording of this event here.

Featured candidates Brian Langley (R) and Louie Luchini (D). The forum was moderated by Jill Goldthwait, former Maine State Senator. This event was sponsored by the Ellsworth American, the Mount Desert Islander, the Weekly Packet, and the League of Women Voters Downeast. 

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