Join us for Fresno Bee Voter Forum. Hear from the candidates, and let your voice be heard

Fresno

In about three weeks, Fresno County voters and others across the region start receiving mail-in ballots. That’s when we shift elections’ coverage into overdrive to provide you with the best, most up-to-date information so you can make informed choices at the ballot box.

As part of that effort, we’d like to invite you to the Fresno Bee Voter Forum on Oct. 2, 6-8 pm, in the theater inside the building at 700 Van Ness Ave., Fresno. Click on this link so you can reserve a spot. It’s free of charge.

We’re talking to candidates from two hotly-contested local county supervisor races:

District 2 — Garry Bredefeld vs. incumbent Steve Brandau

District 3 — Luis Chavez vs. incumbent Sal Quintero

This won’t be a debate in the traditional sense, but a live discussion with rules moderated by Fresno Bee Opinion Editor Juan Esparza Loera and reporter Tim Sheehan. We’ll also take questions from the audience, and plan to livestream the event at www.fresnobee.com, so you can watch from home.

We’ll hold two 45-minute sessions, one for each race, with a 5-10 minute break in between. We’ll provide some light refreshments.

The Bee chose these races because the outcomes arguably affect the most residents, in terms of representation, of any of the races on the ballot. The two districts cover almost every inch of the city of Fresno, population around 550,000, and the candidates are well-known. Bredefeld and Chavez are current Fresno City Council members, facing term limits, and Brandau and Quinterro are longtime supervisors wanting to hold onto their seats.

As we head toward Election Day on Nov. 5, you can count on us to provide full coverage of the races at fresnobee.com and in our other digital and print products. Our local coverage stretches from nuts and bolts, such as advice on where and how to vote, to deep coverage on issues, such as analysis of the request from Fresno Unified schools for approval of a $500 million bond for facilities, among other ballot measures from around the region.

The Bee Editorial Board, is also offering its recommendations in a range of races — from Congress and state races to local ones like the supervisorial contests.

One of the most important functions of a vibrant free press is to provide readers with unvarnished, accurate information about elections. That’s our mission.

We hope you will take part in our forum, either in-person or by watching on the livestream.

Christopher Kirkpatrick is senior editor of The Fresno Bee.

This story was originally published September 18, 2024, 1:23 PM.