Incumbent Teddy Reel and challenger Coy Smith outline roads, housing and revenue priorities at Commerce mayoral forum

Incumbent Mayor Teddy Reel and challenger Coy Smith presented competing priorities for Commerce at a mayoral forum held at Commerce City Hall, focusing on road repair criteria, housing in the historically African American Norris neighborhood, strategies to offset tax-exempt university land and preparations for severe-weather emergencies.

On roads, Smith said the city had lacked adequate equipment until recently and recommended prioritizing major thoroughfares, routes to schools and high-traffic corridors; "your your main pathways as far as public roads, roads going to and from major roadways and work, schools" Smith said. Reel pointed to a completed traffic study and said the city should prioritize heavily traveled streets and streets that support new industry and growth.

Both candidates addressed the…