Greeley City Council candidate debates begin Monday

A Latino voting initiative is teaming with the Greeley Tribune and others to host two Greeley City Council candidate debates in October.

El Voto Latino will host the debates at 6 p.m. Monday and Oct. 8 for the four city council races voters will decide on in early November. The debates will take place in council chambers, 919 8th St.

Monday's forum will include a mayoral debate between incumbent Tom Selders and Ed Clark. It will also feature a debate between Jan Branham, Chuck Archibeque and Denise Hall, candidates running for city council in Ward 1.

The Oct. 8 forum will be among Ward 4 candidates Pam Shaddock and Bill Gillard, and among the at-large candidates Maria Secrest, TJ Marlo, Susanne Villarreal and Russ Baxley.

Jorge Amaya, El Voto Latino director, said though the debates are aimed to address concerns of Latino voters, all Greeley residents will benefit from getting to know the candidates better.

Among the topics to be debated are immigration, racial profiling, jobs and the economy and urban decay, among others.

"We want to be included in this," Amaya said. "The community at large needs to understand how aware are they of these candidates."

Tribune Editor Randy Bangert will help Amaya moderate the debates, which will be televised live on Greeley Government Access Channel 8 and re-broadcast until the election.

November 6 is election day. The last day to register to vote is October 9.