As the spring 2024 election approaches, the Rock County Civics Academy has announced a series of candidate forums for some of the top races in the area.

The election will take place April 2, 2024.

The forums are free and open to the public. Residents are encouraged to participate by submitting questions.

The initial schedule of candidate forums covering races in Janesville, Milton and select Rock County Board of Supervisor District races includes:

• Feb. 29, 2024: Janesville City Council candidates, 6 p.m., UW-Whitewater Rock County, Allen Hall Commons, 2909 Kellogg Ave, Janesville. Six candidates are running for three seats. Candidates invited include Aaron Burdick (incumbent), Paul Williams (incumbent), Larry Squire, Josh Erdman, Mathew Gonzalez and Billy Ray McCoy.
• March 11, 2024: Janesville City Council candidates, noon, Rotary Gardens, sponsored by Janesville Noon Rotary Club.
• March 12, 2024: Milton School Board and City Council candidates in conjunction with the Milton Chamber of Commerce, 6:30 p.m., Milton School District Administrative Offices, 448 E. High St., Milton. The first forum features four candidates seeking three positions on the school board. Candidates invited include Jennifer Johns (incumbent), Joe Martin (incumbent), Daniel Hubert and Annette Smith. That will be followed by the Milton City Council forum. Three candidates have been invited for three seats, Ryan Holbrook (incumbent) and Eric Stockman (incumbent) and Ken Smith.
• March 13, 2024: Janesville School Board candidates, 6 p.m., Italian House, 1603 E. Racine St, Janesville. Four candidates are running for three seats. Invited candidates include Greg Ardrey (incumbent), Elizabeth Paull (incumbent), Colton Measner and Susan Johnson.
• March 14, 2024: Janesville City Council candidates, 7 a.m., Rotary Gardens sponsored by Janesville Morning Rotary Club.

Each forum will include questions prepared by the Rock County Civics Academy in addition to questions solicited from the audience in attendance. The community is invited to submit questions for any of the forums through email at richard.gruber@rockcountycivicsacademy.org; or mailed to P.O. Box 8082, Janesville.

This is the third consecutive year that the Rock County Civics Academy has produced and hosted local government candidate forums.

The Academy is a good-government, public-policy educational organization committed to transparency in local affairs and fostering an informed, involved community. 

In addition to candidate forums, the Academy has hosted numerous public affairs informational programs focusing on issues of importance being considered by local government.  

The Academy stands alone in the region as the leading public-policy advocacy organization focused on improving citizen access and involvement in local affairs.

Follow the activities of the Rock County Civics Academy at their website: RockCountyCivicsAcademy.org, consult them on Facebook at Rock County Civics Academy or view past programs on their YouTube Channel, key words Rock County Civics Academy.

The Rock County Civics Academy is committed to facilitating an informed community, willing to get involved and make a positive difference.