Candidate meet-and-greet today for Lawrence City Commission and school board

A gathering of stickers along the counter at the Douglas County Courthouse awaited early voters, Nov. 3, 2016.

Lawrence voters can meet candidates in the running for open City Commission and school board seats on today.

The Voter Education Coalition is hosting a meet-and-greet with candidates from both races.

The terms of commissioners Lisa Larsen, Mike Amyx and Matthew Herbert are expiring this year. Eight candidates have filed for the election: Herbert, Larsen, Bassem Chahine, Dustin Stumblingbear, Jennifer Ananda, Ken Easthouse, Mike Anderson and Christian Lyche. The primary election will be Aug. 1 and will narrow the field to six candidates ahead of the general election on Nov. 7.

The terms of school board members Melissa Johnson, Vanessa Sanburn and Marcel Harmon are expiring this year. Seven candidates have filed for the election: Johnson, James Alan Hollinger, Kelly Jones, Gretchen Lister, Ronald “G.R.” Gordon-Ross, Jill Hayhurst and Steve Wallace. The general election will be Nov. 7.

The Voter Education Coalition is a nonpartisan community organization that works to provide educational opportunities to the public.

City Commission candidate Christian Lyche informed the Journal-World that he is on a trip and will not be able to make the event today.

The Final Friday meet-and-greet will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Lawrence Creates Makerspace, 512 E. Ninth St.