Most of the candidates running for Mesa County commissioner participated in a debate Tuesday afternoon, giving potential voters a lead as to what they plan to doing if they were to become commissioners.

The debate, hosted by the Grand Junction Lions Club, featured republican candidate John Justman and unaffiliated candidate Jana Bingham Gerow, running for District 1, as well as candidates Rose Pugliese, a republican, and Dave Edwards, a democrat, running for District 3. 

Brad McCloud, with the Grand Junction Lions Club, says it was a great opportunity for voters to hear from the candidates.       

"You know, we've got about a hundred and sixty members regularly in the downtown Grand Junction Lions Club," McCloud said. "Obviously we are very concerned with the issues that are going on in Mesa County.  This is a great forum to bring this group of people together and at the same time get information from these candidates that are running.  And hopefully they'll be able to answer several of the questions we have as to why they could be a representative for one of the two districts that are up."

Candidates were asked what their number one priorities would be, and how they would ease the financial and operational burdens placed on the county by the Fruitvale and Clifton areas.