The Community Council of Lehigh Acres will once again host Politics in the Park on Saturday, October 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Veterans Park Community Center at 55 Homestead Rd. in Lehigh Acres.

Tami Baker, the events coordinator for the Community Council, said two years ago there were around 400 people who attended.

“This election year we are looking for additional folks to come out and hear the candidates,” she said.

Baker said one difference this year would be to have all the tables with campaign literature inside the Veterans Park Community Center.

“We’re going to have a better public address system this year, too,” she said. “Last year a lot of people had problems hearing the candidates when they were given the opportunity to speak for a few minutes.”

Candidates will have an opportunity to share their platform, distribute literature, and meet the voting public, she said.

Candidates invited to attend the affair, the only forum of its kind in Lehigh before Early Voting begins on Oct. 18 include candidates for U.S. Representative, Governor, State Representative, State Senate, County Commission, Lee County Court Judge, School and Hospital Boards, Mosquito Control, ECWCD and Fire Commissioner.

All local, state, and federal level general election candidates are invited. Lehigh Acres is one of the growing areas in Southwest Florida with a population now at 77,000 and a strong voting tradition, Community Council public relations chairman Karen Makowski said.

She said the forum at Veterans Park provides voters an opportunity to hear from the candidates before the election and to speak with them one-on-one during the event.

Even though Early Voting begins on Oct. 18, the general election is on Nov. 2. Early Voting will be at the East County Regional Library. You do not need to have your precinct card with you, but you do need a form of identification such as a driver’s license or a passport to vote there.

As it was two years ago, there will be several tables with campaign information and the opportunity to network with the candidates. Those candidates that are not able to come will have representatives there for them.

Baker said she understood there was also another election forum in a church in the county at about the same time, but wasn’t sure where.

Hot dogs and drinks will be provided through the donations of friends of the Community Council and local businesses, Makowski said. For more information regarding the Candidate Forum contact Tami Baker at www.LehighCouncil.com