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Discussion and consideration of a candidate forum for 2026 local election candidates
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Submitted by:
Zach Kessler - Director of Municipal Services
Deyanira Nevarez - City Clerk/Management Analyst
Department:
Municipal Services
A. Issue
At the April 2026 Spring Election, voters will elect Alderpersons for the City’s twelve new aldermanic districts, and a Municipal Judge. Prior to previous local elections, the City coordinated candidate forums to provide the public with an opportunity to hear from candidates running for office.
At this time, staff are seeking direction from the Common Council regarding the date and format of a 2026 candidate forum and Council approval of a resolution establishing the forum format.
B. Background/Options
Historically, the City has coordinated candidate forums before local elections, offering residents a structured opportunity to learn about candidates.
In 2024, the Wauwatosa-West Allis Chamber of Commerce facilitated the candidate forum in the Common Council Chambers on Thursday, March 7, at 6:30 PM. The Chamber has expressed interest in facilitating a similar forum in 2026 and has indicated availability on the following dates:
• Wednesday, March 4
• Thursday, March 5
• Wednesday, March 11
• Thursday, March 12
Four of the twelve aldermanic races are competitive, each with two candidates running for office. There is no Mayoral election in 2026, but the office of Municipal Judge will be on the ballot. There is only one candidate for the office of Municipal Judge.
Staff propose that a 2026 candidate forum include candidates for both Alderperson and Municipal Judge. Removing mayoral-related provisions from the 2024 format and adding details related to the Municipal Judge election, staff suggest the following framework for a 2026 candidate forum:
Host/Moderator:
• The event will be hosted by the Wauwatosa-West Allis Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”) and facilitated by the Chamber’s Board President or another designated representative.
• The moderator will introduce the event, explain the neutral and nonpartisan role of the Chamber, and outline the method by which questions were drafted and selected.
Opening Statements:
• Each candidate for Alderperson and Municipal Judge will have up to two minutes to share why they are seeking office. Candidates unable to attend in person may submit a video statement for playback during the event.
Timed Statements:
• During timed segments, the moderator will provide a 15-second warning by holding up a sign or another unobtrusive signal.
Post-Program Interaction:
• After the formal portion of the event, all candidates will be invited to remain for informal, one-on-one conversations with members of the public.
Additional Space:
• If the Council Chambers do not provide sufficient space for post-program conversations, additional City Hall spaces may be made available.
Recording:
• The City will record the formal portion of the event using existing A/V equipment in the Council Chambers and will provide a public link to the recording through the date of the election.
To Be Determined: Candidate Questions
The 2024 forum included question-and-answer segments for mayoral candidates, while aldermanic candidates provided only opening statements. For the 2026 election, both aldermanic and municipal judge candidates will be on the ballot, and staff are seeking direction from the Council regarding whether the 2026 forum should include candidate questions.
If the Council wishes to include a Q&A component, staff request guidance on how questions should be developed and selected. Potential approaches include:
Opening Statements Only
• All candidates provide timed opening statements; no questions are asked.
Pre-Selected Questions for All Candidates
• A small set of identical questions is asked of all candidates for a given office.
Council-Submitted Questions
• Council members submit questions; a facilitator selects which will be asked.
Public-Submitted Questions
• Questions are collected through an online form and screened for relevance and neutrality.
Hybrid Model
• A combination of public, Council, and Chamber-submitted questions.
Staff do not recommend any one option over another and will implement whichever process the Council prefers.
Participation in the candidate forum would be voluntary for all candidates. If a forum is approved, staff will issue formal invitations to candidates and will coordinate communication for the event. The City will promote the event using traditional communication channels, including the City website, email lists, and social media, in coordination with the Chamber.
Common Council Resolution R-24-030, which outlined the format for the 2024 candidate forum, is included in the agenda packet for reference.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Priority Area Five: Quality of Life
D. Fiscal Impact
None.
E. Recommendation
Staff recommend that the Committee select a date and format for a 2026 candidate forum, and direct staff to coordinate the event in collaboration with the Chamber.