Candidates for the boards of the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District and the Estes Valley Fire Protection District will provide their views to the public next Sunday, April 6, in a forum sponsored by the Estes Valley Voice. The forum will begin at 2 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Room.
A forum with the candidates running for the Park Hospital District board, also referred to as Estes Park Health, will be held Monday, April 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. That forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Estes Park.
During the Sunday forum, candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves to the community and provide an overview of their viewpoints on issues facing the districts they hope to serve. Candidates will be asked to answer questions submitted by members of the community.
Time will be allowed for each candidate to provide closing statements.
Because more candidates are seeking seats on the fire district’s board, more time during the two-hour forum is being allotted for that panel’s discussion.
Candidates will be given the opportunity to submit in writing their answers to all questions posed and those received but not asked or answered due to the time constraints of the forum. Those answers will be printed in an upcoming special section of the Estes Valley Voice.
Candidates running for two seats on the Recreation and Park District board are Aaron Dorman, Derek Vinge, and incumbent Dan Derman.
All five seats on the Fire Protection District board of directors are up for election.
Candidates for the four-year term are Scott Dorman, Jon “Hippy” Smith, Jeff Robbins, and incumbent Steven Ferrante.
Those seeking a two-year term on the fire board are Mark Alan Stelter, Robert Foster, Sandra Ellen Smith, Ryan S. Leahy, Joshua Leeds, and incumbent Christopher Buser.
All special district elections will be held on Tuesday, May 6.
The Recreation and Park District and the Fire Protection District have chosen to conduct in-person elections, which will require voters to cast ballots at each organization’s election headquarters.
Those voting in the Recreation District election will cast ballots on the lower level of the Community Center, 660 Community Dr. Recreation and Park District voting information is available by contacting Heather Drees at 970-480-1359, or emailing her at heather@evrpd.com.
Fire District ballots will be cast at the fire station, 901 N. St. Vrain Ave. Further information about the Fire District’s procedures can be obtained by contacting Sarah Luetjen at 303-218-7207 at sluetjen@cegrlaw.com.
Ballots for the Hospital District election will be distributed by mail only. Instructions on their return will be included with the ballot mailing, although drop-offs will be accepted in ballot drop boxes at Estes Park Health on election day.
To submit questions for candidates for the Recreation and Park District or the Fire Protection District, please email news@estesvalleyvoice.com before Sunday, April 6. More Information about the election process can be found in the Estes Valley Voice Election Guide.