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HCC HOLDING CANDIDATES FORUM

BRIDGEPORT - Housatonic Community College will hold a Candidate’s Forum for state legislative hopefuls Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The full slate of candidates and challengers House and Senate Districts that represent Bridgeport been invited to attend. The invitations were extended to candidates from both major parties as well as from the Working Families party, which has fielded candidates for two Senate and three House races.

“The forum will give the public the opportunity to question candidates to determine where they stand on key issues,” said HCC’s Ruben Felipe, who is coordinating the event. “We’re hoping for a good turnout from a broad cross-section of the community.”

In the 22nd Senate District, incumbent Democrat Bill Finch faces a challenge from Republican Elaine Hammers, while in the 23rd, incumbent Democrat Alvin Penn faces a challenge from Republican Jerry Blackwell and the Working Family Party’s Heather Partlow.

In the race for the 124th House District seat, incumbent Democrat Ernest Newton faces a challenge from Republican Juan Hernandez and the Working Family Party’s Donald Graham while, in the 128th Republican Ramona Marquez and Working Family Party candidate Elizabeth M. Ratleff have challenged incumbent Democrat Lydia Martinez. In the 130th, incumbent Democrat Felipe Reinoso faces a challenge from Republican Jose Quiroga and Working Family Party member Janiese Void.

The event is free and open to the public.

With a five-year-old campus in the heart of Connecticut's largest city, Housatonic is one of the region's fastest-growing public community colleges. Since it moved to the new campus in January 1997, HCC's enrollment has increased by 61 percent. According to the most recent statistics released by the Washington D.C.-based American Association of Community Colleges, HCC is the second fastest-growing community college in New England. In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally and nationally, HCC has increased the number of programs offered from 43 to 66 since moving to the new campus.

The college is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-95 and Rte. 8.