Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. About 50 people attended the candidates forum at the Nederland Community Center on Tuesday night. The forum was held in the auditorium. It was a chance for the five trustee and two mayoral candidates to speak to voters in person and answer questions that had been submitted earlier.

Hansen Wendlandt and Janette Taylor facilitated the event. The mayoral candidates are Kris Larsen and Chris Perret. The Nederland Board of Trustee candidates are Dallas Masters, Julie Gustafson, Stephanie Miller, Eugene Smith, Topher Donahue and Roger Cornell who was unable to attend the forum.

Each of the candidates was given three minutes to introduce themselves and offer their views on local issues and goals for the future.

When asked what the most crucial zoning issue is, both mayoral candidates said Nederland needs a light industrial area and affordable housing units.

The trustee candidates discussed economic diversity, school enrollment, downtown development and infilling Nederland with housing units.

Mail in ballots will sent out on March 14 and need to be returned by April 5.

Taylor reminded the audience that Nederland elections are often determined by the difference of a few votes.