Somerset Republican Town Committee to host first “Town Hall” event

The Somerset Republican Town Committee will be hosting its first Town Hall event on Friday, March 7th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

The event, which will take place at the new Somerset Middle School located at 1141 Brayton Avenue, is open and free to the public.

Jessica Machado, Chairwoman of the Republican Town Committee, says that the event will be open for all candidates running for office in the annual town election, which takes place on April 14th of this year and will give candidates an opportunity to answer questions directly from voters in the audience. 

“This event will look and sound different from other candidates nights our town has seen. Usually, candidates are asked questions by a panel and stand at a podium to respond. We wanted taxpayers and residents to have an opportunity to ask candidates questions in an informal way about things that really matter to them in our community.”

The Somerset Democratic Town Committee hosts an annual Candidates Night event at the high school each year but Machado said it was a goal of the newly formed Republican Town Committee to give voters a second event.

“I think it’s great what the Democratic Town Committee has done for candidates and voters through the years. We are looking forward to offering voters a second opportunity to meet the candidates running for local office but in a very different way.”

The town hall style event will also have a special guest, State Representative Justin Thurber, who will assist in moderating the discussion. Machado says it will also be a great opportunity for taxpayers to visit the newly constructed Somerset Middle School, which opened this past September.

“There is nothing more American than letting voters and tax payers ask candidates how they plan to serve their town if elected in a building their tax dollars paid for. The most important voice in Somerset is that of the people who live here. We are excited to host this event to give voters more of a voice in the election process” said Machado.

Once nomination papers have been certified and candidates for town offices have been determined, a formal invitation to all candidates will be sent to each candidate but Machado says this is an unofficial “save the date” for all candidates to attend.