(ANGOLA) - About 200 people packed Glendarin Hills Thursday night as candidates in several contested local and state races took questions during the Angola Area Chamber of Commerce's Meet the Candidates event.
The forum gave voters a chance to hear directly from candidates ahead of the primary, with each candidate first offering a brief introduction and stump speech outlining their background, qualifications and priorities if elected.
Candidates in opposed races then moved into the question portion of the evening, responding to two questions submitted by members of the public and provided to candidates in advance.
Among the major issues discussed were affordability, the national debt, public safety, education, recent state laws, environmental concerns, crime prevention and efforts to grow Indiana's workforce.
The format gave voters a side-by-side look at how candidates are approaching both local concerns and broader state and national policy issues.
The strong turnout underscored significant public interest in this year's races, particularly as several contested offices will shape decisions on public safety, schools, economic growth and local government priorities in the months ahead.
The Angola Chamber's annual candidate night remains one of the community's most direct opportunities for voters to compare candidates before ballots are cast.