POSTED: Friday, November 2, 2012

NBC 15 is once again extending a chance to local candidates to appeal directly to the voters. For this year's Meet the Candidates, we are focusing on five state Assembly districts which were uniquely impacted by re-drawn district maps.

42nd Assembly Seat
Incumbent Fred Clark was drawn out of the 42nd and is now running in the 81st District. The candidates in the 42nd are Republican Keith Ripp (incumbent in the 47th, drawn out of that District) and Democrat Paula Cooper.

45th Assembly Seat
Incumbent Amy Loudenbeck was drawn out of the 45th District and is now running in the 31st. The candidates in the 45th are now Republican Beth Schmidt and Democrat Janis Ringhand (incumbent in the 80th, drawn out of that district).

78th Assembly Seat
Incumbent Mark Pocan is running for Congress against Chad Lee. The candidates in the 78th are now Democrat Brett Hulsey (incumbent in the 77th, drawn out of that district) and Green Party Candidate Jonathan Dedering.

80th Assembly Seat
Incumbent Janis Ringhand was drawn out of the 80th District and is now running in the 45th. The candidates in the 80th are now Republican Tom Lamberson and Democrat Sondy Pope-Roberts (incumbent in the 79th, drawn out of that district). Note: Tom Lamberson did not participate in NBC 15's Meet the Candidates.

81st Assembly Seat
Incumbent Kelda Helen Roys ran for Congress and lost in the primary to Mark Pocan. The candidates in the 81st are now Democrat Fred Clark (incumbent in the 42nd, drawn out of that district) and Republican Scott Frostman.