The two candidates who will face each other this fall for the job of Cincinnati mayor will meet in two debates – one on Sept. 17 and another televised debate on Oct. 15 - sponsored by the Cincinnati USA Chamber of Commerce.
The participants in the debate will be the two top vote-getters in the Sept. 10 mayoral primary. There are four candidates on the primary ballots – Democrats Roxanne Qualls and John Cranley, Libertarian Jim Berns and independent Sandra Queen Noble.
The first debate will take place from 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. At least 100 local business leaders will be in the audience. Lance Barry, a spokesman for the Chamber, said tickets will be available to the public at $20 each, which includes lunch. Ticket orders can be made soon on the Chamber’s website, www.cincinnatichamber.com, Barry said.
Other sponsors for the Museum Center debate will be Fidelity Investments, Enquirer Media, the African-American Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati USA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce and the Queensgate Business Alliance.
The second debate will be televised on WCPO, channel 9. It will take place at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts and runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Barry said it has yet to be determined how the live studio audience will be chosen. Along with the Chamber, Fidelity Investments, WCPO, the Cincinnatus Association and the Cincinnati League of Women Voters will sponsor the televised debate.
