NAMI Dakota County to host County Commissioner Candidate Forum tonight
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Dakota County (NAMI Dakota County) is sponsoring a County Commissioner Candidates Forum on Monday, Oct. 8, beginning at 7 p.m. at Mary, Mother of the Church (Assembly Room), 3333 Cliff Road E., Burnsville, MN 55337. All candidates for county commissioner have been invited to attend and five have confirmed they will be participating – Mike Slavik, Thomas Egan, Nancy Schouweiler, Liz Workman, and Victoria “Vicki” Swanson.
“The purpose of this forum,” says Gary Johnson, president of NAMI Dakota County, “is to give candidates for county commissioner an opportunity to address the issues facing children and adults living with mental illnesses and their families. A great deal of the services and supports that help people facing mental health challenges live successfully in the community are funded and administered at the county level,” he explained. Given the fact that around one in four people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, it is very important that Dakota County residents hear from the candidates for county commissioner about their views on these issues.
Each candidate will be asked a series of questions about issues of concern to people living with mental illnesses and their families. Members of the audience and the news media will then have an opportunity to ask candidates additional questions on the topic as well. NAMI Dakota County has hosted these forums each election cycle for over 20 years.
