Metro Brief: Ward 5 candidates go head to head in March 3 debate

Five invited candidates for the vacated Ward 5 City Council seat have agreed to meet in a debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia, Brookland Heartbeat newspaper, and WTOP 103.5 FM Radio. Moderated by Mark Segraves, WTOP Radio lead investigative reporter, the event will be held at the Catholic University of America at 3 pm on Saturday, March 3. Doors will open at 2:30 pm.

 The debate will give the public the opportunity to evaluate candidates running to fill the unexpired term of former Ward 5 council member Harry Thomas, Jr. The DC Board of Elections and Ethics is holding an open election on Tuesday, May 15 to fill the seat. In an open election, all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, run against one another. Eighteen candidates filed petitions to run for the position.

 The candidates participating in the debate are, in alphabetical order: Tim Day (Republican), Kathy Henderson (Democrat), Delano Hunter (Democrat), Kenyan McDuffie (Democrat), and Frank Wilds (Democrat).

These candidates were selected to participate in the debate based on objective criteria that measured public support and campaign activity at this point in the campaign. By limiting the number of participating candidates, the sponsors intend to present a true debate with opportunities for rebuttals.

The debate will take place in the Great Room on the 2nd floor of the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center (CUA), 620 Michigan Ave., NE. Enter from Michigan Ave at the Basilica and continue with the Basilica on your left. Past the Basilica, bear right into the large parking lot. The Pryzbyla Center is a just few steps away from the parking lot. The CUA campus is also accessible by Metro on the red linebus.