Back-to-back mayoral debates are scheduled for mid-September, but both will have very limited panels.
Only Jim Watson, Alex Cullen and Larry O’Brien will attend a Sept. 12 debate on youth and social media, presented by local arts and culture blog Apt613.ca and the Institute On Governance, set for the National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage.
Clive Doucet was invited but could not attend, said organizer François Levesque.
Charlie Taylor, one of the 10 candidates left out, said the snub makes it so much harder for lesser known candidates to gain name recognition.
Several mayoral candidates may skip the Sept. 13 debate at city hall, since it is doubling as a fundraiser for the Ottawa Taxpayers Advocacy Group. People interested in attending have to pay $10 a day in advance.
Alex Cullen will not attend. Jim Watson is still working on scheduling. Clive Doucet was not aware that it was a fundraiser but is slated to appear. Larry O’Brien, Stan Pioro, Robin Lawrence, Jane Scharf and Mike Maguire have confirmed.
OTAG has also invited random council candidates to speak prior to the mayoral debate, said spokesperson Ade Olumide.
