COLUSA, CA (MPG) – About 75 residents gathered at the Colusa Veterans Hall on Thursday, Oct. 8, to hear from candidates seeking seats on the Colusa City Council and Colusa Unified School District Board of Trustees.
The Colusa County Chamber of Commerce hosted the Candidates Night event, giving voters an opportunity to learn about the candidates, their priorities and their positions on issues facing the community ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Seven candidates participated, including four seeking two City Council seats and three competing for two school board seats.
Rather than holding a traditional debate or moderated question-and-answer session, the Chamber gave each candidate approximately five minutes to introduce themselves and discuss their priorities. Following the presentations, attendees could visit candidates at individual tables to ask questions and discuss local concerns.
Chamber Executive Director Jack Cunningham emphasized the importance of participating in local elections.
“You will never have more power in your voice than on the local level,” Cunningham said.
School board candidates Laura Cervantes, Roberta James and Chris McAllister opened the evening.
Cervantes emphasized family representation, communication between schools and parents, vocational education and support for students with disabilities.
James, an incumbent seeking reelection, highlighted district accomplishments, including expanded academic programs, additional student activities and facility improvements funded through Measure C. She also addressed concerns surrounding the district office building, stating that the board has made no decision regarding demolition.
McAllister, also seeking reelection, discussed his experience on the board, improvements to school facilities and his commitment to student achievement.
City Council candidates Ryan Codorniz, Jerry Gonzales, Dave Markss and John Martin followed.
Codorniz and Markss, both incumbents, discussed their records on public safety, infrastructure improvements and city finances.
Gonzalez emphasized maintaining essential services, improving infrastructure, managing city spending and supporting responsible development.
Martin called for stronger financial oversight, reducing the city’s budget deficit, reviewing city-owned farmland leases and improving communication with residents.
Following the presentations, attendees moved throughout the hall, speaking directly with candidates about school facilities, drainage problems, development, public safety and city finances.
City Councilman Dave Marks said many of the questions he received concerned individual properties, particularly drainage issues, rather than broader citywide concerns.
“They’re asking excellent questions,” school board candidate Roberta James said.
Fellow school board candidate Chris McAllister said the format worked better than he expected, although he had hoped more parents of current district students would attend.
The format received mixed reactions. Some participants appreciated the opportunity for individual conversations, while others preferred the traditional moderated format, which allows voters to hear candidates answer the same questions.
Cunningham said he was pleased with the turnout and believed the presentations helped voters identify differences among the candidates.
“I think our turnout was good. I thought all the candidates did a very good job of their presentations,” Cunningham said.
The evening gave residents an opportunity to compare candidates’ priorities and seek answers to questions affecting their schools and city government before casting their ballots.