Lawrence City Commission candidates have been answering questions for weeks about policies, projects and decisions that would affect the financial health of the city of Lawrence.

But how about the physical and mental well-being of the city’s population?

The City Commission is not only responsible for decisions that affect the city’s bottom line, but also ones that can affect public health. And voters will have the chance to ask questions of the candidates to assess their ability to keep the city fit at a forum at 7 p.m. March 30 at the Lawrence Public Library auditorium.

Dan Partridge, director of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, said since release of the Community Health Plan in April 2013, Douglas County, Lawrence, Baldwin City, Eudora and Lecompton have all adopted the plan as a guiding document.

“We have seen over the past 22 months significant community support for the plan,” Partridge said. “With the election of new leadership, we wanted to provide an opportunity for the public to hear from candidates how they will advance the strategies described in the plan and, in a broader sense, how they would use their future role as commissioner to positively influence the health of Lawrence residents.”

The health plan was released after two years of research and priority setting. The health department recently released a progress report on the priority issues and goals in the health plan, which are:

• Access to healthy foods: To create environments where healthy food consumption is easier and more likely.
• Access to health services: To assure a health care system in Douglas County that effectively and efficiently offers preventive and primary care services that are timely, accessible and affordable for all residents.
• Mental health: To create a community that values positive mental and behavioral health and encourages everyone to seek help when they need it by promoting prevention and responding to mental health needs.
• Physical activity: To create an environment and culture, through policy and systems change, that makes physical activity easier and more rewarding for people of all ages and abilities.
• Poverty and jobs: All people have equal opportunity for employment and resources that meet their family’s needs.

All six candidates will be in attendance, and the public is encouraged to attend. The forum is sponsored by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, LiveWell Lawrence and WellCommons.

The candidates will be introduced, then questions will be posed to the candidates. Afterward, the public will be allowed to ask additional questions.

The LiveWell Lawrence coalition’s mission is to make it easier for Douglas County residents to eat healthy foods, be physically active and live tobacco free. Its team members include health advocates from agencies, schools and businesses across Douglas County, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Just Food and Lawrence Parks and Recreation.

Nikki White, chairwoman of LiveWell Lawrence, said that as a sponsor of the forum, the LiveWell Lawrence coalition hopes to both raise the coalition members’ interest in local government and also raise government officials’ awareness regarding decisions that that impact health.

“I hope LWL continues to be invited into dialogue with officials whenever health is a factor in a local issue. Our current work group priorities (healthy kids, healthy food, built environment, worksites, and tobacco) can improve a large cross-section of Lawrence with a positive partnership with local officials.”

Partridge said he hopes the forum gives voters a chance to know enough to vote for someone who truly represents them.

“When we more fully understand the value system through which leaders make decisions, residents can cast votes for commissioners who will represent their values,” he said.