Grapevine council contenders to debate

A debate will be held Oct. 14 to get input from four candidates running in the Nov. 3 election to fill the Place 1 unexpired term following the death of Mayor Pro Tem C. Shane Wilbanks.

Wilbanks, who was reelected this year to a three-year term on the council, died Aug. 21 in his sleep at home.

The City Council approved a resolution Sept. 8 calling for the special election to fill the unexpired term.

Local watchdog group A Better Grapevine is sponsoring the debate between the four challengers.

Kathleen Thompson, a member of the group founded in 2011, said she wanted the voters to get a better chance to get to know the candidates through their Grapevine City Council Special Election Candidate Forum

“A Better Grapevine is a group of non-partisan Grapevine residents with diverse ages and backgrounds, united by the goal of increasing accountability, stewardship and transparency in our local government,” said Thompson, who co-founded the group.

She said all four candidates have agreed to participate. They will be asked questions submitted by the group’s supporters.

Thompson said questions may include: “If elected, how will they engage more of the community in municipal affairs? How will they diversify tax revenue? How accessible will they be?”

The watchdog group helped bring video recording and archiving of council meetings to Grapevine, Thompson said, so one question that will be asked is, “As an elected official, would they vote to continue this valuable resource?”

The event will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at The REC of Grapevine at 1175 Municipal Way. The League of Women voters will moderate.

The candidates running for the post are Marc Blum, a project manager; Lee Derr, a construction manager; Christian Ross, owner of a web and mobile design/development agency; and Paul Slechta, owner of Panda Embroidery.

Early Voting will be at The REC of Grapevine or any polling location in Tarrant County. Days and hours for early voting by personal appearance is Oct. 19-23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Oct. 24, 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.; Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m; Oct. 26-28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Oct. 29-30, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Election day, date of the state constitutional election, will be Nov. 3. Voters will be required to vote at their registered precinct. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Grapevine council contenders to debate."