Stage set for 2010 Maricopa Candidate Forum on Saturday

If you haven’t noticed by the signage and billboards popping up around the city, Maricopa will hold a primary election on March 9. At stake is the mayor’s seat and three council spots.

This election will bring together a diverse group of candidates — three mayoral and eight for council — all from different backgrounds and ideologies. Who would you like to see representing your interests? How will they tackle issues such as economic development, high utility rates, air-quality issues and creating jobs? Can they make Maricopa a better place to live? Here’s your chance to find out.

The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and all four of Maricopa’s major media outlets are partnering to present the 2010 Candidate Forum on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the University of Arizona Agricultural Center.

The forum is in a question/answer format, with all candidates being posed the same questions with a strict time limit for their answers. Maricopa Chamber of Commerce President Rusty Akers will be the moderator. Here’s a look at the candidates:

Mayoral race:

Ken Hunt
Leon Potter
Anthony Smith

City Council race:

Peg Chapados
Edward Farrell
Julia Romero Gusse
Bridger Kimball
Alan Marchione
Brent Murphree
Dallas Paulsen
Rosalin Sanhadja

The forum schedule is as follows:



5 to 6 p.m. Reception/Social
6 to 7:30 p.m. – Mayor Candidate Forum
7:30 to 8 p.m. – Intermission
8 to 10 p.m. – City Council Candidate Forum


Candidates who do not receive the required 50 percent plus one of the total vote in the primary election will move on to a runoff on May 18, with only the top two vote getters for each of the seats moving forward.

If you go:

What: 2010 Maricopa Candidate Forum
When: Saturday, Jan. 30, 5 to 10 p.m.
Where: University of Arizona Agricultural Center
, 37860 W. Smith Enke Road
Cost: Free