The League of Women Voters of DeKalb County hosted a candidate’s forum Wednesday night at City Hall’s Council Chambers, 200 S. Fourth St., giving attendees a chance to learn about the candidates behind the yard signs.

Kay Shelton, president of the League of Women Voters, said open forums like this are beneficial to voters.

“Voters need to know more about the candidates than just reading the yard signs,” she said. “Coming to these events, candidates have to answer questions from the audience. It’s good for the audience to see them think on their toes.”

The forum was for all candidates running in DeKalb’s April 9 election. The 37 candidates were invited to speak to an audience of voters and fellow candidates. Candidates from all 13 races were present, including those for mayor, aldermen and city clerk. Each candidate had the opportunity to give a two-minute statement about why he or she should be elected, and then answer any audience-submitted questions about the contested position.

New DeKalb resident Daniel Wilson attended the forum to familiarize himself with the candidates. He said he hopes other members of the audience also see the benefits of similar events.

“I think it’s always important to know about all candidates during an election,” Wilson said. “It’s especially important in local elections because these are the people that decide on the policies that govern our daily lives.”

Shelton said the League of Women Voters recognizes the importance of local government and encourages informed citizen participation through events like forums.

“One of the main missions of the League of Women Voters is to inform the public, and we have a decades-long history of hosting forums,” she said. “When the voters get to ask the candidates questions, they get to show the candidates what their concerns are.”

Susan Stephens,moderator of the forum and WNIJ news reporter,, hopes to see good voter turnout on April 9.

“This is a very hot mayoral race and there are a lot of great names all the way down the ballot,” she said. “These candidates are the ones that will affect us most directly, these are our neighbors who are willing to put themselves out there.”