OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEVV) — The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce is launching a new event to help voters meet candidates running for office in Daviess County.
Coffee with a Candidate will debut on May 7th at the Owensboro Convention Center, immediately following the conclusion of Rooster Booster. Following Rooster Booster, each table will be assigned two candidates who are not running for the same office, and attendees will have the opportunity to visit with any candidate they choose and engage in one-on-one conversations.
A seven-minute timer will be used to ensure all attendees have a chance to connect. The event will take place two weeks before the primary elections.
“We felt like this would be the perfect opportunity for our residents to interact with the candidates running for office,” Greater Owensboro Chamber President and CEO Dave Kirk said. “At a time when politics can feel especially divisive, we want to create space for thoughtful, informed conversations.”
This inaugural event will complement, not replace, the Chamber’s traditional candidate forums held in the fall ahead of the general election. Instead, it offers voters an additional opportunity to connect with candidates ahead of the primary elections.
“What makes this event special is that it shifts the focus from candidates speaking or responding to each other to candidates engaging directly with voters,” Daviess County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Hagan said. “That kind of personal interaction gives people a better understanding of who they’re voting for and what they stand for.”
Daviess County Democratic Party Chair Larry Miller praised the initiative. He said one of the most important duties as citizens is to be involved in the election of local, state and national leaders.
The timing of Coffee with a Candidate aligns with the May Rooster Booster speaker, Rich Harwood, who will focus on a follow-up from the Building a Better Owensboro report. Harwood will highlight the actions that locally led, community-driven teams are taking to address the report’s findings and strengthen civic engagement in the community.
“Our hope is that this new event will encourage more people to get out and vote while also promoting respectful, civil conversation,” Kirk said. “This is an educational opportunity, not a forum for confrontation.”
This event is open to both members and nonmembers attending Rooster Booster. All candidates should RSVP to the Chamber by calling 270-926-1860 or by emailing Director of Communications and Events Katie Blan at kblan@owensboro.com.
By Ben Thomas 44 News