The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Committee sponsored Candidates Night on Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.

Candidates gave opening presentations, answered questions previously submitted and ended with their own closing remarks.

A large crowd gathered to ask questions and show support for their particular candidate. The night began with a meet and greet of each candidate. This allowed candidates personal one-on-one time with people from the DeKalb community.

“I saw information about the candidate night in the paper and thought it was a great idea to come and hear what everyone had to say,” said Donna Biehl, a DeKalb citizen.

Candidate presentations followed the meet and greet. DeKalb County 16th Circuit Judge Candidate, and NIU alumni, T. Jordan Gallagher has been involved in the court system for nearly four decades and emphasized experience as a key part of his job.

“If you need a surgery you want a doctor that has experience and knows what he is doing,” Gallagher said. “The same goes for a 16th Circuit Judge.”

Another key aspect addressed by candidates was community.

Republican Candidate Randall Hultgren, who has served in legislative office for the last 16 years and is now running for the U.S. House, believes there has never been a more important election than this year.

“I know that family, friendship and community are the true foundations of better neighborhoods and schools, not federal departments thousands of miles away,” Hultgren said. The support of the local elections was clearly shown through DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen.

Povlsen was enthusiastic about the elections.

“The local elections are the best in the world,” he said. “This allows us to take action that benefits us directly.”

Among other things the candidates stressed the importance of voting in the election. Early voting at NIU begins Oct. 18 to 21 at the Holmes Student Center to register to vote go to www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/VoteRegForms.aspx.  For more information about the candidates running in elections go to www.uselections.com/il/il.htm.