BLOOMINGTON -- Candidates hoping to be the next governor of Illinois presented their platforms for change during a forum Monday night at Bloomington's Lafayette Club.

Republicans Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Dan Proft and Dan Schmidt, independent candidate Michael White and Constitution Party candidate Randy Stufflebeam spoke at the event sponsored by the McLean County Freedom Coalition.

"The goal of this forum is to allow the candidates an opportunity to present their ideas to the citizens of Bloomington-Normal so they can make a decision on how to cast their vote," said Lex Green, chairman of the coalition.

The candidates each took questions about government waste, the right to bear arms, states' rights and illegal immigration.

Each candidate took the stage alone to answer prepared questions on those four topics and then questions from an audience of about 75 people. Candidates were isolated so they could not hear their opponents' answers.

The McLean County Freedom Coalition does not back any one political party, Green said. Thirteen gubernatorial candidates were invited, he said.

Don Shields, coordinator of the Bloomington Area 912 Project, said the next gubernatorial election is more than a year away, but local residents don't have to wait until next year to find out where the candidates stand on the issues.

"The time to get active is now," Shields said. "By getting active and participating, you can change the course of government."

McLean County Campaign for Liberty coordinator Jason Riddle agreed, saying a person doesn't have to like politics to get involved.

"Actually, I hate politics," Riddle said. "I hate the games. But I feel it is necessary to get involved so I can help change the things I don't like through communication.

"That's what this forum is all about."