Mayoral forum at Nicolet Thursday

On April 7, Rhinelander voters will decide who should lead the city for the next four years. Rhinelander’s television station (WJFW), public radio station (WXPR), and community college (Nicolet) are partnering to host a mayoral candidate forum in order to allow voters to make a more informed decision. The two candidates are Kris Hanus and Tom Barnett.
Hanus has been mayor for the past four years and is a local bar and restaurant owner. Barnett has been District 1 Alderperson on the Rhinelander City Council for the last six years. He is an artist and owns a storefront in downtown Rhinelander.
The forum will take place at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Nicolet College Theater. It will be moderated by Dan Hagen from WJFW and Katie Thoresen from WXPR. Hagen and Thoresen will ask questions, and audience members are invited to ask questions as well.
“We are proud to partner with WXPR and Nicolet College to present this forum, and provide Rhinelander residents an opportunity to learn more about the two mayoral candidates,” said Steve Shanks, general manager of WJFW. “Voting is an important responsibility, and it’s about engaging in the issues and determining which candidate best represents your values. NBC12 takes our responsibility of serving the public interest very earnestly, and look forward to this opportunity to do so.”
“Strong communities are built on strong local partnerships,” noted Jessie Dick, general manager of WXPR. “WXPR is proud to partner with WJFW and Nicolet College to provide Rhinelander voters with an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and make informed decisions.”

“As a community college, we are dedicated to strengthening democracy right here at home. We are proud to host the mayoral candidates to discuss the issues that matter most to Rhinelander residents. This event ensures that our campus remains a vital space for fostering active citizenship and connecting our students with the democratic process,” added Kate Ferrel, Nicolet College President
The forum will be televised on WJFW on Sunday, March 22. It will air on WXPR at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25.