Independent candidate won’t be part of tonight’s mayoral debate
There’s a mayoral debate tonight in Philadelphia, but one of three candidates will be missing.
Incumbent Democrat Michael Nutter and Republican Karen Brown will face off in Fox 29’s debate, which will be filmed tonight and will air this weekend. Independent candidate Wali Rahman, who also goes by Diop Olugbala, is not included in the debate.
“The people of Philadelphia are appalled by Fox 29’s blatantly anti-democratic action, which excludes the voice of the oppressed black and Latino communities, who deserve to be heard,” reads a statement sent out today from Olugbala’s campaign.
The activist has instead invited Nutter and Brown to debate him on the street outside Fox29 before the formal debate is filmed today.
On a separate but related note, government watchdog Committee of Seventy is challenging candidates to share their positions on several ethics reforms. All responses will be posted to the organization’s website.
WHYY/NewsWorks’ Tom MacDonald will cover today’s debate.
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