Mayoral candidates discuss local policy, student life at Local Elections Roundtable

Fort Collins mayoral candidates joined Colorado State University students Oct. 27 for the Associated Students of CSU’s Local Elections Roundtable, held in the Lory Student Center Theatre.

The event gave students a rare chance to sit face-to-face with candidates ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election, which will determine Fort Collins’ next mayor and city council members in select districts as well as decide several local ballot measures, including proposed charter amendments, ballot issues and ballot questions. Over tacos and churros, attendees moved from table to table in 15-minute rotations, allowing for small-group conversations on issues most important to them.
“We’ve had some good conversations. People — I don’t know why I’m surprised — but all the young people I’ve talked to were actually pretty well informed. They asked thoughtful questions, and it just gives me a lot of hope. … I think they’re engaged in a way we haven’t seen. They’re really worried about their future.” -Shirley Peel, mayoral candidate
Housing affordability dominated the discussion. Students voiced frustration that living in a “college town” has become increasingly out of reach for the very students it is meant to serve.

“I think that the selling point of coming to CSU is that it’s a college town, (but) these are not college town prices,” one ASCSU member said. “It feels like students get tricked into being in the college town without the college town prices. … Once you get here, it’s almost like you’ve been swindled, and now you’re stuck with that reality.”

Mayoral candidate Adam Eggleston, who described housing as his “bread and butter,” agreed that the cost of living has become a major pressure point for renters and students alike.

“That’s 100% fair,” Eggleston said. “It’s just another level of uncertainty and pressure that you have on top of school and work and life. Housing should be the place where you can go home and not have to worry about housing. But that’s become harder to do.”

Other candidates echoed students’ concerns while also touching on broader city priorities, including sustainability, transportation and civic engagement. City Councilmember Shirley Peel said she was encouraged by how informed and engaged CSU students seemed.

“We’ve had some good conversations,” Peel said. “People — I don’t know why I’m surprised — but all the young people I’ve talked to were actually pretty well informed. They asked thoughtful questions, and it just gives me a lot of hope. … I think they’re engaged in a way we haven’t seen. They’re really worried about their future.”

Mayoral candidate Adam Hirschhorn brought up Fort Collins’ economic and environmental goals, comparing the city’s challenges to being “robbed” while outlining his vision for what he called the “Jacob Castillo Resilience and Sustainability Campus:” Hirschhorn’s custom solution to affordable housing. The proposed project would feature vertical farming, 700 affordable housing units and self-sustaining clean energy infrastructure.

Eggleston also highlighted the need for stronger support systems for marginalized groups, particularly survivors of domestic violence through the creation of specialized nonprofits and community services.

Throughout the evening, candidates frequently asked students what mattered most to them, encouraging them to voice their priorities and concerns. Representatives from the City of Fort Collins were also present to explain ranked-choice voting, which will be implemented in upcoming elections.

After discussions of policy and the realities of student life concluded, some candidates and students said they left with a better understanding of each other’s perspectives along with a reminder of the growing role young voters play in shaping Fort Collins’ future.