Associated Student Government to host Grand Junction City Council candidates
Grand Junction – Establishing students as a critical city stakeholder and constituency, the CMU Associated Student Government and Political Science Club will host candidates running for the Grand Junction City Council on March 13, 2019. The candidate forum will begin at 6pm and will explore issues effecting CMU students.
In February 2019, CMU released an economic impact report demonstrating student spending is the largest among all CMU economic contributions in the regional economy.
“Student spending reached massive numbers totaling $128 million last year. Combined with what we provide to the rental housing market, visitation and bringing diversity and new ideas — students are a major constituency whose voice must be heard,” said Beau Flores, ASG President.
CMU and the City of Grand Junction currently engage in a number of joint ventures impacting students including the Grand Junction Opportunity Scholarship program, economic development campaigns, regional transportation efforts, joint community development and planning, the Grand Junction Sports Commission and CMU’s campus expansion funding.
CMU student trustee Amara Hobbs believes that in addition to the forum being good civic engagement for students, the policy positions of candidates have implications for the University.
“As student trustee I can see that the city’s policies over the years have contributed to making CMU what it is today,” said Hobbs. “This candidate forum will allow us to gauge for ourselves where candidates stand in relation to students.”
The ASG and Political Science Club offered an open invitation to all candidates and the community in early March. The event will occur in the Meyer Ballroom at the University Center and is open to the public.
“The forum is a good chance for candidates to come to campus, see our facilities and meet with and learn about the needs of students. We are excited about the opportunity and look forward to hearing what they have to say,” said Jeff Vela, ASG vice president and event coordinator.
