Jerome, Idaho (KMVT-TV) At "Meet the Candidates" forums like the one put on by the Jerome Civic Club, voters get a chance to hear what political candidates stand for. Hopefully that helps each person understand what the people running for office are concerned about, and help voters decide how they're going to cast their ballots.

Event Organizer Gretchen Stone says, "For the candidates this year especially because of the new redistricting, we in Jerome over here do not know some of the ones that are over in Twin Falls, so they can get their message out."

The half dozen candidates at this forum included Senate candidates Jim Patrick and Scott McClure, along with Cindy Shotswell and Clark Kauffman, and incumbent Jerome County Sheriff Doug McFall with Independent opponent Ken Rushing.

Stone says, "The new faces bring out more people, because they're not known. Whereas the incumbents usually have a following. But the new people need to get a following, and so this is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet members of the community and also pitch their philosophy."

Stone says this is the sixth Meet the Candidates forum that the Jerome Civic Club has organized in recent years. She says they've always had good turnouts, and it's important for them to support both local and federal elections.

Oct. 25, 2012.