AUBURN -- Cayuga County voters don't have to rely only on campaign literature to learn about this November's candidates.

Nine candidates from various races affecting the county will participate in a forum from 6 to 8 tonight at the Auburn Holiday Inn.

The forum will be a town hall style meeting, giving attendees opportunities to submit questions. Candidates will each be given two minutes at the beginning to address the audience. Mikel LeFort, editor of The Citizen, will moderate.

Candidates were also given a questionnaire outlining points, which are likely to come up, such as adequate housing, budgetary cuts to social service agencies, election reform and health care

"We're hoping they will get answers to questions they may have on the state and federal levels," said Guy Cosentino, executive director of Options for Independence.

Each major race Cayuga County voters will weigh in on Nov. 2, will be represented by at least one candidate.

Nine candidates from the 123rd, 128th and 129th Assembly Districts, the 48th Senate District, and the 24th Congressional District will be present. Cosentino was impressed by the response.

The Cayuga/Seneca Action Agency, one of the event's sponsors, has held similar forums in the past for city council and county Legislature candidates. But this is the first in recent memory Cosentino can remember for higher-level candidates.

"These are their representatives," Cosentino said. "They are some of the closest elected officials to them and they should be able to mingle, talk and get answers."

Some races will be better represented than others. Democratic candidate David Valesky will be the only candidate present for the 49th Senate District at the forum.

Incumbent Republican Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann will not be in the central New York area tonight. Phone calls to Conservative and Independence Party candidate Tom Dadey on why he could not attend were not returned.

Valesky was also the only candidate present at a similar forum held at Syracuse University last month.

"The more opportunities candidates have to get out and meet voters and have them hear their positions on issues makes for better representation," he said.

Valesky sees these types of forums as mutually beneficial for candidates and constituents.

"It's a two-way street," he said. "People get to hear me and, just as important to me, get to hear from them and what their needs are. After all, we are public servants."

Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267

or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net