LR mayor attends debate in Detroit

WASHINGTON — Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. attended Wednesday night’s Democratic presidential debate in Detroit as a guest of one of the hopefuls — U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.

The stage was crowded, with 10 candidates facing off, including former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

“It truly was a great feeling when you see so many people who are focused on the forward movement of our nation. It was definitely a great experience,” Scott said in a telephone interview Friday.

CNN broadcast the event live.

(Ten other candidates fielded questions the previous evening.)

While appreciative of Harris’ invitation, Scott has declined, thus far, to take sides in the contest.

The mayor said he is longtime friends with one of Harris’ “chief surrogates,” former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers.

But he also has a positive relationship with Booker. The former Newark mayor enthusiastically backed Scott in 2018.

“I have not endorsed any presidential candidate and do not know if I will, but I do want to take the opportunity to listen on behalf of the citizens of Little Rock,” he said.

The office of mayor is nonpartisan, and invitations from both sides of the aisle are valued, Scott said.

On Monday, he and Republican 2nd Congressional District U.S. Rep. French Hill of Little Rock will host a round-table discussion on opportunity zones that will include representatives of President Donald Trump’s administration, he added.