A
s regular readers certainly know, the Pikes Peak Bulletin has gone through rugged times over the past year.
There’s no need to tell that story again. For those of us who were involved in the near-demise of Manitou Springs’ weekly newspaper, the wounds have not fully healed. There were missteps and regrets, to say the least.
But out of it all came a breath of fresh air — new ownership led by publisher Lyn Ettinger-Harwell, along with persistent editor Rhonda Van Pelt and an admirable group of caring local supporters. Some aspects of the paper have stayed the same, others have changed and a few are still evolving.
Bottom line, the Bulletin is still alive and kicking, its vital signs reinforced. The community should feel fortunate that Ettinger-Harwell and Van Pelt, the PPB board members and the paper’s multiple contributors have worked so diligently to re-energize the paper.
The timing couldn’t be better, because Manitou Springs never needs its newspaper more than during the buildup to our biennial city election. Voters are facing arguably more tough choices than on any local ballot in modern times.
Excellent, unexpected questions are essential.
So once again, the Bulletin is hosting its election forum next Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Briarhurst Manor. Social time starts at 5:30 p.m. with the program to begin at 6. As usual, the League of Women Voters is co-sponsoring and helping with logistics. And the moderator will be this former executive editor, retired but still paying attention.
It’s an honor being asked to oversee another forum. As the candidates will confirm, I’ve avoided endorsing, or contributing to, anyone. I’m not on the Bulletin payroll anymore, but in the newspaper business, you can be retired and continue as part of the family, playing by the rules. That includes staying neutral in elections.
My role in this Oct. 19 forum will be simple — to bring out responses from candidates that make your voting decisions easier. From past experience, it’s clear that one factor elevates the best events such as this.
Questions. Excellent, unexpected questions are essential. Readers are welcome to offer advance input, so feel free to send your ideas to ralphrouton@msn.com. We’ll also ask attendees to scribble down their questions, and if they’re good enough, we’ll use them.
This forum will have separate discussions for the mayoral and City Council candidates. And with no local ballot issues to consider, that leaves more time for the contested races.
In recent elections, apathy led to a dearth of candidates. In 2021, only 1,271 residents voted, a drop of nearly 40 percent from the usual 2,000-plus voters in previous elections.
But this year, enhanced by a strong class of participants in the new, city-sponsored Citizens Academy, civic involvement has blossomed.
Your ballot will offer three choices for mayor: incumbent John Graham facing City Councilor Nancy Fortuin (the mayor pro tem) and Tyler Graefe. More surprisingly, the battle for three at-large Council seats will have all three incumbents plus seven — that’s right, SEVEN — capable challengers. Even for School District 14, there are four candidates for three board positions.
It’s encouraging to see such healthy, competitive fields in 2023. But now the responsibility switches to you, the voters, to educate yourselves and make the best, informed choices.
With mail ballots going out next week, the Oct. 19 forum will be your final opportunity to learn more about the candidates. We’ll do our best to make it worth the time. That’s still the Bulletin’s job.
See you there.
IF YOU GO
The Bulletin and the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region will host a Candidate Forum starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Briarhurst Manor Estate, 404 Manitou Ave.