10/15/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 14, 2026
Chamber Cancels Winfield Candidate Forum After Incumbent Declines Public Format
McIntyre invites voters to ask Rep. Roth to appear in a public forum
WINFIELD, Kan. — A candidate forum for Kansas House District 79, planned by the Winfield Chamber of Commerce, will not take place after incumbent Rep. Webster Roth declined to participate in an event open to the public. Challenger Siobhan McIntyre confirmed her attendance in August, when the forum was first discussed.
Over several weeks, the Chamber’s CEO Sarah Werner worked with Roth by phone to negotiate the terms of the event. The Chamber’s requirement was that the forum be open to the public, while the format itself was flexible. At the end of September, Roth confirmed he would not attend, and the Chamber executive committee decided not to hold a forum with only one candidate.
“Elected officials are accountable to the public at large. My opponent, Webster Roth, has declined to attend the only non-partisan public forum where all candidates for the 79th district were invited. All voters have a right to ask candidates questions and compare us side by side. If Mr. Roth is unwilling to meet with constituents and take questions publicly, then he cannot accurately represent the needs of our district. I will continue to knock on doors and attend as many public events as I can. The voters can see that when we set higher expectations for our elected officials, there are people who will rise to meet them,” said McIntyre.
McIntyre said she would have used the forum to discuss rural healthcare access, including mental health services, and maximizing state education funding to help lower property taxes.
Voters who want to hear from both candidates are encouraged to contact the Roth campaign and ask that he make himself available for a public forum. McIntyre will hold “Coffee with a Candidate" events across the district where voters can meet her and ask questions directly
