Odeen, Knudson to Participate in WPR Candidate Forum at UW-River Falls

Candidates vying for the 30th Wisconsin State Assembly District seat in Madison are facing off in River Falls Thursday in a forum mediated by Rich Kremer of Wisconsin Public Radio's "The West Side" radio show.

The forum with Republican State Rep. Dean Knudson and Democratic challenger Diane Odeen will air live in the Hudson area on 88.7 WRFW at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20. The event will take place at the Kinnickinnic River Theater on the UW-River Falls campus. A live audio webcast of the event will be available at PureRadio887.com.

WPR issued the following news release:

The West Side Presents 30th State Assembly District Candidate Forum from UW-River Falls

The West Side will feature candidates from the 30th State Assembly District, incumbent Dean Knudson (R-Hudson) and Diane Odeen (D-River Falls), during a live candidate forum on Thursday, September 20, at 5 p.m. on 88.7 WRFW/River Falls and 88.3 WHWC/Menomonie-Eau Claire. The forum will be broadcast from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Kinnickinnic River Theater. Live online streaming of the broadcast is available at PureRadio887.com.

Host Rich Kremer will mediate the one-hour forum, broadcast live from UW-River Falls. Kremer will take questions from listeners in the theater audience as well as callers at 800-228-5615. The forum, one of a nine-week series of regional legislative candidate specials, is a part of Wisconsin Public Radio’s continued effort to provide voters in western Wisconsin access to their candidates for public office.

Diane Odeen is an attorney for Lommen Abdo Law Firm. Odeen has been active in River Falls Rotary as regional President and a member of the Board of Directors, has served River Falls United Methodist Church at state and regional leadership levels, is on the Board of Directors for FORWARD, and is co-founder of River Falls Community Theater.

Rep. Dean Knudson is running for his second term. Knudson is a veterinarian and started a veterinary clinic in 1989 in Hudson. Knudson formerly served as Hudson Mayor and on the Hudson City Council. In the Assembly, he currently sits on the Committee of Colleges and Universities as Vice Chair, the Committee on Education, and the Committee on Urban and Local Affairs.

Due to campus construction, the largest and most accessible parking lot is located on the corner of Second St. and Spring St., just west of North Hall. Guests can reach the University Center by walking across Cascade Ave. and turning left onto the sidewalk. Turn right just past Davee Library and walk across the mall to the University Center. For more visitor information visit wpr.org/eauclaire.

The West Side is a call-in program focused on issues specific to western Wisconsin.  The show airs on Thursdays at 5 p.m. on 88.3 WHWC/ Menomonie-Eau Claire and often on 88.7 WRFW/ River Falls.