BOARDMAN — The Boardman Civic Association has announced its 2020 candidates and issues forum will be an in-person, outdoor event.

Organizers said that decision was made “after much education, consultation with local health and safety experts, and community planning.”

The forum will be 5:30 p.m. Monday at Boardman Park’s Maag Amphitheater. Outdoor seating will be arranged for appropriate social distancing.

Candidates to be highlighted at this year’s forum are the 13th District U.S. Congressional race, the Ohio House 59th District race, both Mahoning County commissioner races, and the races for county prosecutor, probate judge, area court judges, recorder and coroner.

The issues include the Mahoning County Senior Citizen Services, the county Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Boardman Township levies, including those for the park and school district.

Attendees are asked to consider bringing their own chairs. An outdoor sound system will be used, and those guests who prefer to remain in their vehicles will be able to hear the proceedings on their radios via Boardman Park’s short-range FM transmitter — the same system used for Boardman Park’s holiday lights display.

In the event of rain, the forum will be moved indoors to Boardman Park’s Community Center Rotary Room, and guests will be limited to speakers, civic association board members and a TV crew. The sound system and FM broadcast still will be available.

Boardman schools will videotape all speakers for later broadcast on its cable television network. The dinner that is usually part of the forum will not be held this year, according to a news release from the organization.

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