Municipal debates start tonight

There will be two chances this week beginning tonight to get to know the candidates vying for spots on Juneau’s assembly and school board.

The Juneau Empire, in partnership with KTOO Public Radio and Juneau Votes, will host a debate among Juneau Board of Education candidates at at 5:30 p.m. tonight at KTOO’ @360 studio. On Tuesday night, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly candidates will debate at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library.

Both events will run from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with an audience question and answer segment to follow from 6:30-7 p.m. Refreshments and food will be provided.

Four candidates are competing for two available school board seats. They are Steve Whitney, Dan DeBartolo, Jason Hart and Kevin Allen.

On the Assembly side, incumbent Mary Becker and challengers William Quayle Jr. and Arnold Liebelt are vying for a District 1 seat; incumbent Kate Troll and challenger Norton Gregory are competing for an areawide seat; and newcomer Beth Weldon is running unopposed for the District 2 seat currently held by Jamie Bursell, who joined the Assembly when Karen Crane stepped down to run for mayor during the past special election.

The school board debate will be moderated by the Empire’s Lisa Phu and KTOO’s Quinton Chandler; and the Empire’s Sam DeGrave and KTOO’s Lakeidra Chavis will moderate Tuesday’s assembly debate.

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