The Williams-Grand Canyon News gave the five Williams City Council candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves and explain their positions on important issues facing Williams.

Each candidate was given the same questions. Individual Q & A's can be found by clicking on each candidate's name.

Michael Cowen, candidate for council.

Frank McNelly, candidate for council.

Dawn Trapp, candidate for council.

Michael Vasquez, candidate for council.

Craig Fritsinger, candidate for council.

The primary election takes place Aug. 4. Early voting for the primary election started July 8.

The Coconino County Elections office mailed out over 44,600 early ballots to voters on the permanent early voting list (PEVL) and those who have requested a single election early ballot for the primary election.

Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen urges all Coconino County registered voters to request an early ballot be mailed to them, or to vote early in person at one of the early voting locations.

Early voting is the safest method for our voters, poll workers and election staff members during this COVID 19 pandemic, Hansen said.

Hansen said early voters can decide how they want to return their voted early ballot: by mail; dropping it off in a ballot drop box or at an early voting location or dropping it off at any polling location in the county on Election Day.

Recently, there has been a lot of misinformation about fraud associated with early voting. This is just not true, Hansen said. We have numerous safeguards and procedures in place that would catch anyone trying to cast fraudulent early ballots.

Ballots can be turned in at Williams City Hall, 113 S. 1 Street in Williams, Monday - Friday from 7:30 am 5 p.m.

The Aug. 4 primary election is a partisan primary, meaning voters on the PEVL who are registered with a recognized political party are being mailed an early ballot for the political party indicated on their voter registration form. Recognized political parties in Arizona for the 2020 elections are Democratic, Republican and Libertarian.

Voters on the PEVL who are registered as Independent, with no party affiliation, or an unrecognized political party, were sent a notice at the end of May informing them that they should return the notice indicating which political party ballot they want to receive. If this notice was not returned, the Elections Office cannot mail the voter an early ballot until they tell the Elections Office what party ballot they want to receive. Independent and unaffiliated voters who are on the PEVL and did not return their notice may call the Elections Office to request the specific party ballot, or do so online at http://www.coconino.az.gov/elections, select Early Ballot Request.

The Libertarian Party has a closed primary, which means only early voters registered as Libertarian will be mailed a Libertarian ballot. Independent and unaffiliated voters may not request a Libertarian ballot.

All registered voters, not on the PEVL, may request an early ballot for the primary by calling the Elections Office; sending a written request to Coconino County Elections Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001; or submitting an on-line request at http://www.coconino.az.gov/elections and clicking on Early Ballot Request.

The deadline to request an early ballot be mailed is July 24.

Early Voting is also available in person at several locations throughout the county.

To see the list of early voting locations and their office hours go to http://www.coconino.az.gov/elections, select Early Voting Locations.

More information is available from the Elections Office at (928) 679-7860 or toll-free at 800-793-6181.

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Five residents in the running for three seats on Williams City Council - Grand Canyon News