The candidates for County Commissioner took part in the Grand Bipartisan Debate on May 19 at Fraser Valley Elementary. They spoke to a crowd of around fifty people on topics including home rule, strategies for balancing the budget, the rising cost of healthcare, the suggestion of moving from three commissioners to five, and candidate’s personal experiences that have best prepared them to be County Commissioner.

One suggestion for improving economic development was making high speed Internet available to more parts of the county to give businesses incentive to more here.

Candidates were questioned on home rule and if a movement from three commissioners to five would help solve the problem. According to the debate question, some candidates felt there is a need to move from three commissioners to five in order to better balance the competing interests of the geographically dispersed population of Grand County that has “widely varied political views.”

None of the candidates said they would immediately support the move to five commissioners during their speed round of yes or no questions.

All candidates supported hiring a county manager before the election.

The next debate is scheduled for Thursday, May 26 at the Community House in Grand Lake from 7 to 9 p.m.