Candidates for the Weatherly Area School Board will debate on Oct. 23.

The school board Wednesday night voted to approve a request by the Journal-Herald Newspapers to use the Weatherly Area Middle School for Candidates Night.

“The board put the word out they wanted to have the event, and I volunteered,” said Seth Isenberg, co-publisher of the newspaper with his wife, Ruth.

“What we’re hoping to accomplish is to let the voters see the new people who have stepped up,” Isenberg said.

There are six candidates on the Nov. 7 election ballot for five, four-year seats. Current board President April Walters and Vice President William Knepper have cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, while another current board member, Christy Minor, is only on the Democratic ballot. Ty Harris, Bonita Lee Barbush and Gerald Grega - the latter two former board members - will appear on the Republican ballot.

There are two candidates on the ballot for a single two-year seat, Barbush, again as a Republican only, and current board member Tom Connors Jr., who has no party affiliation.

There are also candidates who want to reportedly wage write-in campaigns.

Isenberg said the night will begin with a five-minute statement why they want to serve on the school board. Then, questions will be posed by a panel of journalists.

“There will be an intermission so the public can meet the candidates,” Isenberg said. “People can submit questions, but the panel (of journalists) will decide which questions will be asked. Those who want to submit questions - and the candidates - should contact me to participate. I will need their name, phone number and email. The candidates will speak in the order they contact me to participate.”

Isenberg can be reached at the newspaper at 570-215-0204, and leave a message. He can be contacted by email at journalseth@pa.metrocast.net.

Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 23.