Forum for mayor candidates Saturday

Published 3:59 pm Friday, September 18, 2020

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A forum for Suffolk mayoral candidates will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sept. 19 at the Living Waters Christian Center at 1226 White Marsh Road in the White Marsh Plaza Shopping Center.

All four candidates for mayor — incumbent Linda Johnson, Councilman Mike Duman, Brian Bass and Vanessa Harris — have been invited to participate in the event being put on by Delegate Clinton Jenkins, he stated.

Duman and Bass confirmed on Friday they would be at the forum. Harris, when reached Friday, said she was not sure if she would be there, citing a busy schedule. Johnson did not immediately reply to messages seeking confirmation of her attendance.

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“It gives the candidates an opportunity to get their message out so people can understand the issues,” Jenkins said. “It’s to help the candidates.”

To maintain social distancing, Jenkins said only invited guests of pastors and local civic organizations, fraternities and sororities would be allowed to attend the forum. He said each group would get to invite two people to attend the forum.

Suffolk Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance President, the Rev. Henry Diggs, said some of the organization’s pastors would be in attendance. Diggs said the organization would host its own forum prior to the election.

Each candidate will get an opening and closing statement, and then will take questions submitted in advance. Jenkins said the public can submit questions at clintjenkins@aol.com.

In-person voting started Sept. 18, and Election Day is Nov. 3.