Gazette, KKTV mayoral debate will include council candidates’ forum
Note: Refresh your screen if the video appears stuck. The mayoral debate will begin at 7:30 and will be seen in the box above. A replay of the city council candidates’ forum, which was held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., is available at the bottom of this article.
Scroll down for live social media updates.
The first wave of ballots for the April 7 city election have been mailed, but voters may want to tune into one last candidates’ forum Thursday before casting their votes.
The Gazette, KKTV and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs are hosting a Thursday virtual City Council candidates’ discussion followed by a mayoral forum, where candidates will field questions from local business leaders, members of the media, UCCS students and Gazette readers.
Voters will choose a mayor and three at-large City Council members in the April election.
Voters in District 2 will choose a new council member to complete the last two years of a four-year term, and voters in District 4 will decide whether they want to recall Councilwoman Helen Collins.
The Gazette’s Eric Singer will host a virtual City Council candidates forum where the format is fast and furious and candidates will engage in a roundtable style discussion. The forum will be streamed live from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Gazette.com and KKTV.com.
At 7:30 p.m., the four leading mayoral candidates – Amy Lathen, Mary Lou Makepeace, Joel Miller and John Suthers – will take the stage at UCCS’ Berger Hall for a 90-minute forum. Tickets are required but no longer available. Those who attend should be seated by 7:10 p.m.
The debate will be streamed on Gazette.com and MyKKTV, channel 41. The forum will be hosted by KKTV’s Don Ward.
Candidates will be asked questions from UCCS students in the School of Public Affairs and a Gazette reader via video. Candidates also will ask questions of each other, and attendees will have time to ask their questions.
The forum sponsors – the Colorado Springs Independent, Colorado Springs Business Journal, the Regional Leaders Forum, Downtown Partnership and the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute – also will send representatives to ask questions of the candidates.