Mayoral and School Board Candidates Forum Tonight

Shakopee’s two mayoral candidates have delivered plenty of divergent views, but tonight is the public’s only chance to see those views hashed out on the same stage.

The , sponsored by the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 8:45 p.m. at . Incumbent John Schmitt and challenger Brad Tabke are participating in their only shared public forum.

The forum will also be broadcast live on Shakopee Government Access Channel 16 and rebroadcast periodically until the Nov. 8 election.

"There’s a lot of energy surrounding this election,” said Tom Frazier, the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee chairman and the forum's coordinator. “We expect it to be a full house.”

In addition to Schmitt and Tabke, four candidates vying for three openings on the Shakopee School Board—Reggie Bowerman, Jeremy Casper, Matt McKeand and Angela Tucker—will attend and participate in a forum after the mayoral debate. Parents are encouraged to bring their children, who will have time to meet the candidates and take part in a kids' vote.  

The most recent development among all the candidates is Tabke’s resignation on Monday as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

“It has become apparent that running for mayor while an officer of the Chamber has caused others to question the integrity of the organization,” Tabke wrote in a news release. “My resignation will allow the Chamber to focus on its mission of improving the Shakopee business community without distraction.”

Frazier said Tabke’s affiliation with the Chamber has no impact on tonight’s forum, although he expects that will be one of the questions asked during the debate.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to be objective,” Frazier said.

To that end, moderator Rob O’Neal, senior pastor of Brookwood Community Church, was chosen in part because he lives outside Shakopee and therefore will not have a vote in this election. In addition, all questions asked during the event have come from the public, Frazier said.

People can still submit questions for consideration through this afternoon by emailing elections@shakopee.org.

The Shakopee City Council Candidate Forum happens at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Shakopee City Hall.