Website aims to educate voters

MEDFORD -- Ever walk into the voting booth and not know where the candidates stand on any issue, much less who they are? A group of Medford citizens doesn't want that happening in their city next month.

This week, the group launched a new website as a way to get voters familiar with candidates in the upcoming City Council and School Committee elections. The website, votemedford2005.com, gives candidates an opportunity to answer a list of questions so voters know where each one stands and how they differ from one another.

''Posting their responses to questions online puts them in the hands of voters," said Jane Kostick, an organizer of the website. Voters ''can see the candidates' responses for themselves."

Ten candidates are running for City Council, with the top seven vote-getters winning office. Ten candidates are also running for School Committee, with the top six vote-getters taking seats. Mayor Michael J. McGlynn is running unopposed. The election is Nov. 8.

Kostick said a committee of citizens came up with the questions after brainstorming with one other. The questions were then posed to candidates and the answers were posted on the website. For example, all School Committee candidates were asked a series of questions about the state MCAS test, religion in public schools, attracting and retaining teachers, and the quality of the city's school system. City Council candidates were asked about the environment, economic development, open space, and street safety.

Users of the website can look at individual candidates' responses or pull up side-by-side responses from different candidates. The website also has candidates' e-mail addresses, so voters can contact them for follow-up questions.