COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Colorado Springs mayoral election is just one week away.

Steve Bach and Richard Skorman are the remaining two candidates vying for the seat as the city's first strong mayor. In a final effort to win votes, Bach and Skorman squared off for the last time Monday night.

With the help of social media, virtually anyone could participate in the Young Professionals Mayoral Forum.  Hosted by the Springs Vision Forum, both candidates not only answered a variety of questions from the live audience, but also responded to those posted in real-time on Facebook and Twitter.

Event organizer Tucker Wannamaker said the forum was designed to highlight the issues and concerns young professionals have. Many of the questions were about jobs, reviving downtown and connecting the people of Colorado Springs.

"I was not surprised by any of the questions," Bach said. "I wanted to have more of a chance to articulate more details and some of my thoughts about how we can move this city forward. But all in all, it was just a great event."

Bach and Skorman agree on the need to bring more jobs to the city, as well as attract a younger crowd. They both also said cyber forums, like the one held at the Plaza of the Rockies, are a great way to do so.

"I think we need to have more forums like these," Skorman said. "We can really reach many more people. I would hope that we could do more of these from here on in. This is our first one, but let's make this a precident for future Colorado Springs elections."

Ballots for the 2011 mayoral run-off are due by Tuesday, May 17, no later than 7 p.m.

Reported by: Kelly Werthmann