District 3 hopeful Paul Meltzer has told The Dentonite that he is challenging his opponent Don Duff to a series of three debates before early voting begins. 

Last week we reported the City Council election results that ended up with a runoff for District 3. Neither these two nor their opposing candidate Jason Cole received 50 percent of the total votes.

Meltzer also told The Dentonite that he would like to appoint Cole to the Health and Building Standards Commission. Cole, a Native Dentonite, has a deep understanding of the struggles local business owners face when trying to get established. 

Meltzer’s proposed debates will take place at Robson Ranch, somewhere on Fry Street, and the final will be a Mock Council. The locations will be determined soon and you can check back to this post as soon as dates and locations are announced. 

Having separate debates at Robson Ranch and somewhere in the Fry Street area will be beneficial to reach two major voting audiences in District 3. Robson Ranch is a retirement community that hosts more than 3,000 elderly homeowners. Those around the Fry Street area are more than likely the exact opposite; young people, students, renters, and the counterculture alike. 

As for the Mock Council, Meltzer would like it to be similar to a city council meeting where there will be an open dialogue between the two candidates. After a predetermined session’s minutes post, Meltzer would like to meet Duff to discuss and debate the agenda items in a Mock Council format. There are only three sessions left before early voting begins on May 30. 

“Sounds like he’s getting desperate,” Duff said. “All the debates that we had previously were really diluted but I think these will be more meaningful. I’ll very likely go to any of them. I’m not crazy about it, but I will go. I found most of those things to be pretty boring,” Duff said.

There has been talk of a NAACP & LULAC debate happening prior to voting, but official information has not surfaced yet. 

Early voting begins on Tuesday, May 30 and runs through Saturday. Early Voting continues June 3 from 8 AM - 5 PM, on Monday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 6 between 7 AM - 7 PM. Early voting ballots can be cast at Denton County Elections Administration Office located at 701 Kimberly Drive.

Election Day is Saturday, June 10, 2017, and you can vote from 7 AM - 7 PM at North Lakes Recreation Park located at 2001 W Windsor Dr.

Photos courtesy of Facebook
Header image design by Sara Button