Holy Cross Students to Host Candidates’ Night Forum

WORCESTER, Mass. – Students at the College of the Holy Cross are hosting a Candidates’ Night Forum for the 2009 Worcester Municipal Election on Wednesday, Oct.21 at 5:30 p.m. in Rehm Library.  Prior to the Nov. 3 election, candidates running for city council and mayor will debate civic issues. The event is free and open to the public.

It attendance will be mayoral candidates/councilor-at-large candidates: Konstantina B. Lukes, Kate Toomey, Joseph C. O’Brien and Emmanuel Tsitsilianos and councilor-at-large candidates: Joseph M. Petty, Mary S. Keefe, Michael J. Germain, Rick C. Rushton, Stephen S. Buchalter, Kola A. Akindele and William J. McCarthy.

Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD), Eco-Action, the College Democrats and the College Republicans are hosting this forum as a means of better engaging the student voice in Worcester.  The forum is intended to encourage students to vote for the city, with the welfare and shared interests of everyone in mind.

“We want the forum to be an opportunity for students to begin a dialogue with our city’s elected officials,” explains Sean McFadden '10, one of the organizers of the event.  “As young people working to be informed, engaged members of the community, we have a responsibility to organize and question.”

Moderated by Julianna Stuart '10, the forum will be a question and answer session. Students hope to cover issues ranging from housing policy and education to neighborhood pools.