Meet the Candidates 2026 - Minnesota House of Representatives Districts 9A & 9B

2026 Fergus Falls Area “Meet the Candidates” Public Events
The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has served as the lead advocate for our members for the past 140 years. We host candidate forums during election years to give candidates the opportunity to speak to our members and the general public about business-related issues that affect our region. We co-host four forums with Leighton Media, Daily Journal Media and PEG Access TV at Fergus Falls Center for the Arts, 124 W. Lincoln Avenue in downtown Fergus Falls.
 
Thursday, October 1 – 4:30-5:30pm: Minnesota House of Representatives Districts 9A & 9B
Candidates Invited:

• State Representative District 9A: Jeff Backer & Nicholas Hanson
• State Representative District 9B: Tom Murphy, Owen Werner

• (Dist. 2): Wayne Johnson, Jeff Gontarek
• (Dist. 4): Stephen Springer, Jim Stewart

• Events are free and open to the public.
• Signs/posters will not be allowed in the auditorium, on the event premises or at the entrance.
• Candidates will present an introduction and a closing statement.
• Questions will focus on issues impacting our local business community.
• Questions are not provided to candidates in advance
• Questions will NOT be taken from the audience.
• Each forum’s questions may vary.
• The order of questioning will rotate with each subsequent question beginning with the next candidate next.

• From the beginning of the forum until its conclusion, the moderator will maintain control of the discussion – this is as a matter of polite proceedings.
• A two-flag system will be used to indicate the remaining time. The timekeeper will hold up a YELLOW flag to indicate 30 seconds or fewer remain. A RED flag indicates time has elapsed.
• Time limits will be enforced. The moderator will interrupt any candidate speaking past their allotted time. Candidates must yield the floor when directed by the moderator, in respect to other candidates.

• There will be NO rebuttals.
• Events may be broadcast/re-broadcast on 1250AM KBRF and PEG Access/YouTube.
• Audience members are invited to meet individual candidates following the forum.
• Chamber staff and volunteers have the authority to ask anyone to leave at any time.