by Beecher Threatt

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Two local candidates' forums each attracted well over 100 attendees on Sept. 26 and Oct. 2. Ouray County Cattlemen's Association, host for the first forum, and Women in Support of Education, host for the second, ran efficient, lively programs with respectful and knowledgeable audiences. Participating in both were District 1 county commissioner candidates incumbent Lynn Padgett (D) and challenger Jack Flowers (R). District 3 candidates are Pat Willits (U) and Don Batchelder (R). (Willits is technically the incumbent, as the governor appointed him to fill the four-month unexpired term created when Heidi Albritton resigned in August.)
At the OCCA forum, held at the 4-H Center in Ridgway, moderator Don Latham gave each of the four candidates two and a half minutes to answer each of 10 questions, chosen by members of OCCA. At the packed Ouray Community Center, WISE moderator Nancy Wolkin first announced each speaker would get one minute per question, but when that received grumbles she suggested two minutes and fewer questions. Batchelder suggested one and a half minutes, which all agreed to.