Yuma-area candidates to face off in forums

September 24, 2008 - 6:05 PM

Candidates for the District 4 seat on the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and a Superior Court judgeship are facing off in a debate tonight in San Luis, Ariz.

They are Tony Reyes, the Democratic incumbent supervisor in District 4, and his Republican opponent, David Lara, and Republican John Minore and

Democrat Maria Elena Cruz, who are competing for the Division 6 judge seat in Superior Court.

The debate will take place 6 to 8 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, 1130 N. 10th Ave., and is open to the public.

The candidates will take questions from a panel consisting of Gaby Gonzalez, anchor for KSWT; James Gilbert, staff writer for The Sun; and Maria Chavoya, editor for Bajo El Sol.

The candidates are competing in the Nov. 4 general election.

The debate is sponsored by The Sun, Bajo El Sol and KSWT.

It is the first in a series of debates that are open to the public. Follow-up debates are:

• Yuma's proposed multi-purpose events center will be the subject of a debate Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Booth Machinery, 6565 E. 30th St. Participants are Tom Pancrazi, Tom Kelly and Yuma City Councilman Ross Hieb.

• The candidates for the state House of Representatives and the District 2 seat on the board of supervisors will debate from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at Harvest Preparatory Academy, 350 E. 18th St.

The House candidates are Democratic incumbents Lynne Pancrazi and Theresa Ulmer and Republican Russ Jones. Supervisor candidates are Republican incumbent Russell McCloud and Democratic challenger Donna Phipps.