Erie Mayoral Forum: Our City, Our Movement, Our Choice

Wednesday, April 12

Erie Refocused: A Comprehensive Plan and Community Decision-making Guide was published last spring at the behest of outgoing Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott. With a city "short on resources, long on challenges, and covering nearly 20 square miles," the onus will be on the incoming mayor to choose where to focus first.

Ten candidates – seven Democrats, two Republicans, and one third-party (Michael Bush of the Disability Party) – are in the running for what promises to be a pivotal election. The Erie Mayoral Forum at the Blasco Memorial Library will serve as a foreword to the May 16 primary, facilitating a more informed decision at the polling center. The public is invited and strongly encouraged to join in the discussion and meet-and-greet with the candidates after the event. Panelists Daria Devlin, Marcus Atkinson, and Jim Kurre will moderate.

On the Democratic ticket are Edinboro University professor Lisa Austin, County Councilman Jay Breneman, Erie Playhouse Executive Director Almitra Clerkin, retired Erie Bureau of Police Chief Steve Franklin, former City Councilwoman Rubye-Jenkins Husband, City Councilman Robert Merski, and former City Councilman and retired PNC Bank Vice President Joe Schember.

Lawyer John Persinger and Jon Whaley, a businessman and former aide to Mayor Sinnott, comprise the Republican ticket. – Matt Swanseger

6 to 8 p.m . // H.O. Hirt Auditorium, 160 E. Front St. // Free and open to the public