By Chris Thew
Chronicle staff

     OMAK - Colville tribal voters in the Omak and Nespelem districts will have an opportunity to hear from candidates running for Colville Business Council during forums on Sunday, April 19, at the Omak Performing Arts Center and Wednesday, April 22, at Lake Roosevelt High School, Coulee Dam.
     Both the event in Omak, organized by Sneena Brooks, and the event in Coulee Dam, organized by Brooks and Darrin Cawston, will run from 6-10 p.m
     During the forums, candidates will be asked pre-arranged questions compiled from public comments, Brooks said. Questions will focus on tribal issues.
     Brooks said at least two of the Omak District candidates have confirmed they will attend the event, but said all candidates are welcome to take part.
     "Last year, I had every one of the candidates show up," Brooks said. "I think they're all going to show up this year."
     Brooks said he started the annual public candidate forum in Omak last year to get involved and learn about options for the primary.
     This year, the event will be held earlier in the election season to accommodate absentee voters.
     "A lot of people that voted absentee were not able to redo their votes" last year, Brooks said. "That's why we decided to do it earlier in the year."
     The primary election will be May 2.
     Brooks said he believes last year's forum helped voters find out about the issues affecting the tribe and more about the candidates.
     "They get to see the candidates, how they respond to issues and how they handle themselves publicly," Brooks said. "I think the candidates appreciated that it wasn't a place to come bash them. It was a positive political forum."
     Brooks said he received so many comments from voters and candidates in the Nespelem District asking to be involved in the forum that he decided to expand to two events.
     Brooks said he hopes to continue holding the event each year and would consider expanding to the Keller and Inchelium districts.
     "It's kind of a building process," Brooks said. "We'll find ways to include everyone eventually."
     Baked goods will be available for sale to help pay for the event, Brooks said.
     Questions for the candidates can be e-mailed to Brooks at hey_sneena@yahoo.com by 5 p.m. April 16 or by contacting him at 322-6647.