NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENTS PREPARE THE TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR UPCOMING MAYORAL DEBATE

(10/26/2007) NEW HAVEN- City high school and college Students have been invited to submit questions for the final debate of the City’s Mayoral candidates in preparation for the November 6 election. On Tuesday, October 30, 2007, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, a mayoral debate will be held by the New Haven Democracy Fund in conjunction with the League of Women Voters, WTNH, the New Haven Register and the New Haven Advocate.

The debate will be held at the Wexler-Grant School auditorium located at 55 Foote Street. All three mayoral candidates will appear: Democrat for re-election Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., Republican Richter Elser, and Green Ralph Ferrucci. Refreshments will be served after the debate.

Once New Haven high school and college students submit questions, the League of Women Voters will finalize a list for use at the debate. Audience members will also have an opportunity to submit questions before the debate. The questions will be posed to the candidates by a single moderator.

The New Haven Democracy Fund is a new pilot public election financing program. New Haven is the first city in Connecticut to establish a public financing system as part of a State Elections Enforcement Commission program. The voluntary Democracy Fund program, in which all candidates are participating, is intended to bring more New Haven residents into the political process, to make small contributions more meaningful, and to prevent large contributors from affecting the electoral process. Mayoral candidates are able to spend more time communicating with voters and focusing on the issues, and less time fund-raising. For more information on the Democracy Fund, please contact: Robert Wechsler, Administrator, New Haven Democracy Fund rwechsler@cityethics.org, 203-859-1959. The Democracy Fund website can be found at: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Government/DemocracyFund.asp

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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga

Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 203-946-7660