Billings-Area Conservation Roundtable Hosts City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forum

For Immediate Release:Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Billings – The Billings-Area Conservation Roundtable is holding a forum of City Council and Mayoral candidates to discuss conservation issues concerning the city of Billings.

The forum is set for Tuesday, September 1st from 12:00-1:30 p.m. in the basement conference room of Valley Bank at 207 N. 28th, Billings. The Roundtable is a network of local representatives of conservation groups, agency representatives, business people and interested citizens working to preserve Montana’s quality of life.

The forum will be moderated by former Billings Mayor Chuck Tooley. Eleven of the seventeen city council and mayoral candidates have confirmed their attendance.

Candidates will be answering questions dealing with alternate modes of transportation, conservation and efficient use of natural resources, energy and responsible growth and development. The forum will begin with 2 minute openings from each of the candidates, followed by a series of prepared questions. Questions from the audience will be taken at the conclusion.

“Conservation issues really affect us most directly at the local level, and that’s why this forum is so important,” said Roundtable participant Ed Gulick, who is also chairperson of the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council (YVCC).The event is sponsored by the YVCC, as well as the Montana League of Rural Voters, the League of Women Voters, Our Montana, and the Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund.

“We urge people to join us and participate in this forum,” Said Gulick, “it’s rare for citizens to have this kind of access to candidates running to be elected public officials, and inform themselves about the candidates and decide of who they want to vote for.”

The Conservation Roundtable is a network of individuals, organizations and agencies that come together on a bi-monthly basis to discuss conservation-related issues and share information of common concern.