MOSES LAKE — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education is an important issue to voters each election cycle and locals will have the opportunity to hear the STEM-related plans of November general election candidates in Moses Lake on Thursday.

The forum, sponsored by the Apple STEM Network, will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, 900 Yonezawa Blvd. The event is designed to showcase the views and plans of general election candidates on STEM education and Career Connected Learning (CCL) for youth in the 13th District, which covers Grant, Lincoln and Kittitas Counties.

Scheduled to participate in the forum are 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, 13th District Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, and his November challenger Jesse Hegstrom Oakey, D-Ellensburg, and Sylvia Hammond, D-Ephrata, who is running against 13th District Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg.

Forum organizers say the candidates will be sharing their plans to “support and bring together educators and businesses.” The panel-style forum, which will be moderated by Dr. Andy Shouse, of Washington STEM, is free for the public to attend and there will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.