Political Notes Oct. 15

Douglas County Republicans will host a debate party at GOP headquarters 5:30 p.m. tonight.

The party is hosted by the Douglas County Republican Central Committee and will feature a 60-inch wide screen television to view the final McCain-Obama debate before the Nov. 4 election.

Popcorn, beer, wine, soft drinks will be available.

The League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates' forum 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the event hosted by the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. The forum is sponsored by the Timken-Sturgis Foundation.

Questions will be submitted by audience members.

Commission candidates will begin at 7:15 p.m.

Panelists include moderator Maud Naroll, Peggy Twedt, Greta Hambsch and Dorothy Gardner.

Assemblyman James Settelmeyer, R-Gardnerville, will discuss the challenges to business and the economy of Nevada's rural counties at an election forum 6-8 p.m. Oct. 22.

The Douglas County Building Industry Association's Builder's 2008 Election Insight Forum will be held at the Carson Valley Country Club.

Settelmeyer, who is running for re-election, will also talk about change versus experience.

He was appointed chairman of the Region IX Office of the National Ombudsman of the U.S. Small Business Administration on Oct. 8. He will serve the region, that includes Nevada, California, Arizona, Hawaii and Guam until Oct. 8, 2009.

Also speaking at the forum will be Keep Improving Douglas Schools committee chairwoman Cheryl Blomstrom on the Douglas County School Bond and District 5 county commission candidates Nancy Epstein and Michael Olson.

Early voting begins Saturday in the CVIC Hall on Esmeralda Avenue in downtown Minden, the Tahoe Transportation Center and the Topaz Ranch Estates Fire Station.

Early voting will continue at the CVIC Hall through 3 p.m. Oct. 31, when it will close early for Nevada Day.

Satellite polling places will allow voters living in outlying areas of the county to vote early.

Polling places will be at the Sunridge Fire Station 3-7 p.m. Oct. 23; Gardnerville Ranchos Fire Station 3-7 p.m. Oct. 29 and the Johnson Lane Fire Station 3-7 p.m. Oct. 30.

Early voting will also take place at the Tahoe Transportation Center on Oct. 25 and Oct. 29 and at the Topaz Ranch Estates Fire Station Oct. 25 and 28.