PORTSMOUTH — After a Town Council candidates’ forum in Common Fence Point Sept. 26 was abruptly canceled, the League of Women Voters of Newport County (LWV) has found a new venue: Portsmouth Middle School.

The forum was originally scheduled from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, at the CFP Arts, Wellness and Community Center on Anthony Road.

However on Monday, David Gleason, a Republican member of the council who’s running for re-election, sent an e-mail to The Portsmouth Times, announcing the forum had been canceled.

Gleason, one of the candidates who could have participated in the forum, is also a member of the Common Fence Point Improvement Association’s Board of Trustees, which he said made the decision to cancel the event. 

In his e-mail, Gleason stated the following: 

“Recently, an event called The Portsmouth Town Council Candidate Forum, was scheduled by the League of Woman Voters (LWV) for September 26, 2024 at the Common Fence Point Association (CFPA) Hall on Anthony Road in Portsmouth, RI. Due to a misunderstanding about the event, that was not in any way the fault of LWV, the CFPA Trustees had to cancel the scheduled event. They have suggested several Portsmouth venues to the CFP officers to forward on to LWV, who will hopefully reschedule this event at another Portsmouth location.”

Gleason added that his e-mailed message came from the “CFP trustees,” all of whom are residents of Common Fence Point.

The League has since relocated the forum to Portsmouth Middle School at the same date and time.

Sponsors of the forum are LWV of Newport County, East Bay Media Group, Newport This Week, AARP RI, Involved Newport, and The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce. Scott Pickering, general manager of East Bay Media Group, will be moderator.

In other local political news:

GOP fund-raiser is this Saturday

A “Turn RI Red” fund-raiser event is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Seaconnet Sportsman’s Club, 145 Seaconnet Drive, Portsmouth.

A suggested donation of $30 per person is appreciated. Submarine sandwiches, side salads and desserts will be served at the event, which will feature state and local candidates and is open to the public.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Tkaiser@protonmail.com.

Donovan to appear at Oct. 1 forum

R.I. Rep. Susan Donovan (D-District 69) and her independent challenger in the November election, Sergei Sharenko, will appear at a candidates forum at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Roger Williams University.

Open to the public, the forum is presented by the League of Women Voters of R.I. and East Bay Media Group.

Incumbent June Speakman and her independent challenger for the House District 68 seat, John Hanley, will also appear at the forum.

Everyone is welcome to send question(s) to trishsylvester@gmail.com by Friday, Sept. 27. The forum will be available between Oct. 2 and Nov. 4 through the League website: www.lwvri.org.

Directions: Enter the campus through the North entrance, park in lot D, walk to the right to the far entrance of the North Campus Residence Hall. The Great Room is on the second floor.