Meet the Candidates Forum is an opportunity for voters and candidates to meet one another in a more personal event format compared to a debate. Candidates are provided one table for their campaign staff and handouts. Sponsors are provided one table for their business staff, marketing collateral and any prizes they offer. The voters are provided seating facing the front of the meeting space. The event begins with thanking our attendees, campaigns and sponsors for their support. We will begin introducing candidates to the audience in the order they appear on the ballot. Each candidate will have 5 to 10 minutes of uninterrupted speaking time to discuss their campaign goals, positions on topics and other related topics. After all the candidates have spoken, we will call up any of our sponsors who are running raffles or other give-away contests. When the raffle segment is complete, we thank everyone for their attendance, invite them to visit the candidates at their respective tables, and request attendees complete an event survey to help us improve future events.

A portion of this event will be streamed live on our YouTube channel. We’ll provide more details as we come closer to the 17th.

Please consider filling in the RSVP form below. We are abiding by the occupancy restrictions of the venue. Your RSVP will allow us to prepare for the event and setup the tables and chairs to maximize safe distances prior the event starting. Additionally, your RSVP will help us plan for the amount of light refreshments we will order for the voters, campaigns and our volunteers.

Mauro Garza (REP) – Attending – Called us and asked if he could attend to speak.

Joaquin Castro (DEM) – No invite, no response

Jeffrey Blunt (LIB) – No invite, no response

*We did not send invitations to Federal candidates based on historical responses.

Lani Popp (REP) – Attending

Rebecca Bell-Metereau (DEM) – Attending

Stephanie Berlin (LIB) – No Response

Peter P. “Pete” Flores (REP) – No Response

Roland Gutierrez (DEM) – No Response

Jo-Anne Valdivia (LIB) – No Response

Lyle Larson (REP) – No Response

Claire Barnett (DEM) – Candidate made a request for video submission, we approved. Video will be limited to the same amount of speaking time other candidates will have at the event. Video will be published on Helotes News social media after the event.

Renée Yanta (REP) – Attending – Called us and asked if she could attend to speak.

Rebeca Martinez – No invite, no response

*We did not send invitations to Federal candidates based on historical responses.

Gerard C. “Gerry” Rickhoff (REP) – No Response

Javier Salazar (DEM) – No Response

Stephen David Pennington (REP) – Attending

Albert Uresti (DEM) – Attending

Trish DeBerry (REP) – No Response

Christine Hortick (DEM) – No Response

For Council Place No. 1

Craig Sanders – Attending

Alan Holmes – No Response

For Council Place No. 2

Linda Salazar – Attending

Alex Blue – Not Attending (Family Obligation)

For Council Place 4

Brandi Morgan – Not Attending (Working) Candidate made a request for video submission, we approved. Video will be limited to the same amount of speaking time other candidates will have at the event. Video will be published on Helotes News social media after the event.

Cynthia Massey – No Response

If you are interested in promoting your business to the Helotes residents who will attend, please reach out to us for the sponsorship packet. [email protected] or call 210-780-7647