The two candidates for Derby mayor are scheduled to debate 7 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 24 in the auditorium of Derby High School.
Two-term incumbent Mayor Anita Dugatto is facing a challenge from Republican candidate Richard Dziekan.
Tuesday’s debate will be the first Derby debate in front of an audience in at least 12 years.
There’s been some confusion online about the debate’s format.
It is not being set up as a question and answer session for the public.
The Dziekan campaign reached out to The Valley Indy and asked the publication to moderate.
The Valley Indy has been working with both campaigns and Derby Public Schools to organize the event.
The debate format was suggested by The Valley Indy and approved, with slight modifications, by both campaigns.
The debate is not a town hall-style, question and answer session.
Here is the format:
Part I: Each candidate makes an opening statement of no more than three minutes.
Part II: A student from Derby High School will ask each candidate a question the students have prepared.
Part III: The candidates will ask three questions of each other. The Valley Indy will not see these questions in advance.
Part IV: The Valley Indy reporters will ask the candidates questions. These questions have not been shared with the candidates.
Part V: Closing statements
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Election Day is Nov. 7.
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Why Can’t The Public Ask Questions?
A few online readers have questioned why the public cannot ask questions directly of the candidates.
The Valley Indy previously put out a call for suggested questions from the public. Some of those questions will be incorporated into Part IV of the debate.
We’re of the belief that if reporters are being asked to moderate, reporters can ask questions.
A town hall-style debate would not require reporters to moderate. Reporters would simply sit in the audience and cover the event.
We also want to guard against the candidates simply taking questions from supporters and giving prepared answers.
Why Does A Student Get To Ask A Question?
This is the third large-scale debate the two-person Valley Indy staff has put together. We always try to involve students in some way, especially when we’re using a school for the venue.
WILL IT BE STREAMED LIVE?
We’re going to try, but we can’t make any promises. Streaming on the road for long periods can be tough for us, and we have a spotty record inside school buildings. But we’ll try!
We hope to see a good crowd Tuesday.
Derby High School is at 75 Chatfield St.
