Club Rings Bells With Innovative Candidate Forum
Chevy Chase Women’s Republican Club (CCWRC) has long been known for promoting Republican principles through education, outreach, and fellowship—always with a creative twist and a sense of fun. The April 22 general meeting and candidate forum, “Local Candidate Connection,” was a textbook example of that approach. Innovative, engaging, and thoughtfully executed, the event truly lived up to its name. You might even say it was a real bell ringer.
The concept itself was bold—and even a little unconventional. As the CCWRC President Lorraine Kuchmy candidly admitted, “When I first came up with the concept for this event, I thought it sounded a bit crazy. A speed‑dating candidate forum? Could it work? But it was a ton of fun.” That willingness to try something different proved to be one of the evening’s greatest strengths.
Rather than hosting a traditional candidate forum with prepared speeches from a podium, CCWRC introduced a dynamic, interactive format unlike anything many attendees or candidates had experienced before. Using a “speed‑dating” style setup, the event enabled 12 local candidates to engage directly with every attendee in the room, while attendees enjoyed frequent, focused opportunities to ask questions, exchange ideas, and assess candidates in a more personal and conversational setting.
The forum was held at the Race Bar at Clyde’s Chevy Chase, a venue well‑suited for both discussion and camaraderie. The evening began with appetizers and informal social time, allowing members and guests to mingle before the program officially commenced. A brief club meeting followed, including announcements and updates, setting the stage for an evening devoted to informed civic participation.
Nearly 100 attendees then enjoyed a generous buffet that helped establish a relaxed and upbeat atmosphere. Guests sampled a pasta bar featuring rigatoni bolognese and a vegetarian option, along with a variety of salads. A slider bar with cheeseburger and chicken sliders served alongside tater tots proved especially popular and helped keep energy levels high throughout the evening.
Then, the action began. For one full hour, a bell rang every five minutes, signaling the candidates to rotate from table to table. With each ring, candidates moved on to a new group, ensuring that by the end of the hour every candidate had visited every table in the room. The fast pace kept conversations lively and purposeful, while the tight timing encouraged candidates to clearly articulate their positions.
Reflecting on the format, the club’s First Vice President Susan Baker noted, “It was quite an event—lots of energy, conversation, and challenging candidates to share their platforms in 5‑minute blocks.” Both attendees and candidates agreed that the structure fostered meaningful exchanges without the formality or repetition common to traditional forums.
Candidates were encouraged to bring palm cards and informational materials, which many attendees appreciated as useful takeaways for later reference. Several statewide and congressional candidates also attended the event informally, though participation in the speed‑dating rotation was reserved for candidates running for county offices and the Maryland House and Senate, reinforcing CCWRC’s emphasis on local elections and grassroots involvement.
The response from all involved was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees valued the opportunity for direct, substantive conversations, while candidates welcomed the chance to introduce themselves and their priorities in an engaging, personal way.
CCWRC has earned a well‑deserved reputation for producing high‑quality, engaging political programming. Its long‑running Let’s Talk Politics events have often been imitated but never duplicated. Based on the enthusiastic response to Local Candidate Connection, it seems likely that this innovative forum may join that tradition as one of the club’s signature offerings.
Once again, CCWRC demonstrated that civic engagement can be informative, effective, and enjoyable—and that sometimes the most successful ideas start with creativity, a ringing bell, and the courage to try something new.
CAPTIONS:
1) CCWRC President rings the bell signaling time for candidates to move to the next table.
2) Gallery photos below show candidates engaging with attendees.