The candidates for city council after the forum. Photo provided by Maria Luiza Peréz Chavéz, Mesa County Community Organizer with Western Colorado Alliance.
City council elections are coming up on April 8th and ballots are already out. In order for Grand Junction residents to better grasp their voting preferences, several forums and events have been catered towards the public. Western Colorado Alliance hosted a forum on March 8th at Mesa County Central Public Library. This allowed for city council candidates to share their opinions on local issues and discuss topics of interest for the upcoming municipal election.
The library’s community room exceeded capacity and had eager audience members lining up way before the event even started. There were around 200 participants and 220 streaming Western Colorado Alliance’s Facebook live. Attendees who could not be in the room were pacing the hallways, ear to phone or door, soaking up every bit of information.
All candidates attended. For District A, Alexis Hitzeroth and Cody Kennedy, Laurel Cole for District D, Randall Reitz and Robert Ballard for District E and At Large candidates Ben Van Dyke and Kenneth Scissors. Each position is a four year term.
The forum was very well rounded and represented a unique variety of Junction’s population. Questions were asked from Western Colorado Alliance, the Just Housing team, the groups West Slope Youth Voice, the League of Women Voters, Save the Orchard Mesa Pool, and audience members.
Taylor Smith is a junior at Caprock Academy and member of West Slope Youth Voice, a non-partisan organization advocating for youth voices on the Western Slope. Smith states, “Overall, the discussion went really well.” When asking questions, Smith describes the candidates as “surprised”, due to the gravity of the topics like houselessness. Smith concludes, “Memorable moments were being able to talk with them directly and get the name out for West Slope Youth Voice.”
Getting to know your local leaders and candidates is super important and will ultimately decide the growth and fate of Grand Junction. Don’t forget to vote by April 8th for city council.