By AARON RICCA/The Bee

KINGMAN – About 50 people packed the Desert Diamond Distillery tasting room for a public forum and meet and greet with mayoral and city council candidates Thursday evening.

The conversation focused on the one-percent Transaction Privilege Tax for Pavement Preservation and Kingman Community Improvement Plan.

Current Vice Mayor and mayoral candidate Jen Miles was joined by Councilman Stuart Yocum (who will be running as a write-in candidate for his next term) and write-in candidates Deana Nelson and Scott Holtry.

Mayor Monica Gates didn’t attend and was said to be dealing with the continuing aftermath of Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Who is America” video that put Kingman in the national spotlight this week.

SueAnn Mello Keener and Ryan Dooley, both who will be on the city ballot for the August 28 Primary Election, were also absent due to other engagements.

The candidates answered questions from moderator David Rice and from the audience. More details on the forum will be available this weekend.

Desert Diamond Distillery hosted the forum. Sirens Café provided catering and the event was sponsored by Kingman and Mohave Manufacturing Association (KAMMA) and Vote Kingman.

Follow the 2018 mid-term elections at www.thebee.news.

(Photo caption—Vice Mayor and mayoral candidate Jen Miles speaks to a packed tasting room at Desert Diamond Distillery Thursday evening.)