FILE Photo by Philip B. Poston/Sentinel Colorado
AURORA | Brother Jeff Fard’s Free Think Zone and the Aurora Sentinel will host a daylong candidate forum Saturday focused on giving local voters a closer look at Democratic candidates ahead of the June primary election.
The Arapahoe County Democracy Fest is slated from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community College of Aurora’s Fine Arts Building, Heritage Hall, organizers said.
The free public event will feature candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Arapahoe County commissioner, in districts 2 and 4, as well as candidates for state House districts 9, 41 and 42 in Aurora and east Denver.
Organizers said the event is intended to provide voters with an open forum where candidates receive equal speaking time and residents can compare their positions on county and state issues before primary ballots are cast.
Brother Jeff Fard of the Free Think Zone podcast and Dave Perry, editor of the Aurora Sentinel, will moderate the four candidate forums.
The commissioner forum is expected to last about 90 minutes, while each state House forum will run about an hour.
Candidates will deliver opening and closing statements and answer moderator and audience questions.
Saturday’s schedule includes:
• 9 a.m. – networking and time to meet with local groups and agencies represented at the event.
• 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. – State House District 42 forum
• 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.- Arapahoe County commissioner forums for districts 2 and 4.
• 12:30 p.m. statewide candidates will make remarks and answer audience questions
• 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. State House District 41 forum
• 2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. State House District 9 forum
Organizers said all forums will be live-streamed and recorded for voters unable to attend in person.
The Free Think Zone describes itself as a community forum focused on civic dialogue and voter engagement in the Denver metro area. The Aurora Sentinel is a non-profit, 501(C)(3) community-led online and print newspaper serving Aurora and nearby communities.
The Community College of Aurora is at 16000 E. CenterTech Parkway. The event will be live streamed and recorded on the Brother Jeff Fard Facebook page, click here to watch.