2 of 3 mayoral candidates will debate at synagogue
Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley will host a debate next week between two of the three candidates for Kingston mayor.
Mayor Steve Noble, a Democrat, and SAM Party candidate Vince Rua will face off starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the synagogue, 243 Albany Ave.
Republican/Independence Party candidate Ellen DiFalco was invited to participate but declined.
Noble is completing his first four-year term as mayor. Rua is making his first run for public office.
The public will have the opportunity to ask the candidates questions during the debate, which is planned to last about 90 minutes and is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
The Oct. 24 debate is one of several upcoming events in Kingston featuring candidates.
The Kingston Library, 55 Franklin St., will host a forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, featuring Michael Kavanagh and David Clegg, the candidates for Ulster County district attorney; March Gallagher and Lisa Cutten, who are running for Ulster County comptroller; Bryan Rounds, who is unopposed for Ulster County judge; and the candidates running for Ulster County Legislature seats in the city of Kingston’s three districts.
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, a Democrat, declined an invitation, and the rules state that if one candidate in a race declines, the other (in this case Conservative Jack Hayes) cannot be part of the event.
Ryan’s office has said that the executive has a scheduling conflict.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast will feature candidates running for countywide positions, and that event will include Ryan and Hayes.
The breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Best Western Plus hotel, 503 Washington Ave., Kingston. Admission is $25 for chamber members who pay in advance, $30 for members at the door and $35 for others. To register, call (845) 338-5100 or go to bit.ly/2QbPU2y.
Also on Oct. 22, the Daily Freeman will host a debate between Ryan and Hayes in the newspaper’s Kingston office, starting at 11 a.m. The debate is not open to the public but will be shown live at dailyfrreeman.com.