For the first time, all of the candidates running for mayor of Athens in the upcoming May election will attend the same debate.
The five mayoral candidates Tim Denson, Dexter Fisher, LaKeisha Gantt, Sharon Miller and Mara Zuniga will debate Thursday evening.
Miller, a former pastor, was unable to attend the previous mayoral event. So, Athenians will have their first chance to hear from all the candidates ahead of the election on May 19.
Nonprofit Athens Classic Inc. will host the event, and member Steve Middlebrooks says to ensure fairness, the candidates have been sent the questions in advance.
“Those questions varied from property taxes to waste to health care costs to homelessness, affordable housing, crime, infrastructure— things along those line," Middlebrooks said.
WGAU News Director Tim Bryant will moderate the forum.
The debate will be held in the Jack Drew Auditorium at Piedmont Medical Center at 6 p.m. Both attendance and parking are free. The event will also air live over the radio on 95.9.
