Forum Slated for Pittsfield Mayoral Candidates
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The event in the Boland Theatre is free and open to the public. Pittsfield Community Television will provide a live telecast.
Ten candidates are on the Sept. 22 preliminary election ballot. The two finalists will compete in the Nov. 3 general election.
Radio personality Larry Kratka will host Monday's event, which is part of a series of election debates and forums hosted by BCC, televised by PCTV and coordinated by The Pittsfield Gazette.
The event will feature tight time limits, with an on-stage clock for the candidates and a display of the countdown via graphics for home viewers. Kratka will alternate between quick-response and more detailed questions.
"Given the large field of candidates, we're utilizing a rigid format to ensure that all the candidates receive equal opportunities and that the pacing doesn't suffer," said Pittsfield Gazette publisher Jonathan Levine. "The quick-response questions will be asked to everyone, with some replies limited to just a few words. The remaining questions will be posed to smaller groups of candidates, rotating who responds first."
The series at BCC will include a follow-up mayoral debate on Oct. 26 as well as School Committee and at-large council debates on Oct. 20. The Gazette and PCTV will also sponsor in-studio ward council debates on Oct. 19.
