GOLD COAST — The North Dearborn Association will host a debate between the six contenders in the 2nd Ward aldermanic race at the Newberry Library on Oct. 28.
Moderated by WBEZ reporter Chip Mitchell, the debate will run from 6-9 p.m. and include remarks from candidates Bita Buenrostro, Brian Hopkins, Steve Niketopoulos, Alyx Pattison, Stacey Pfingsten and Cornell Wilson.
Michele Studl, president of the neighborhood association, said the group is "excited to host this forum and encourage neighbors and community members to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to meet candidates for Alderman of the 2nd Ward."
The debate will precede a dramatic race for the ward, which was completely reshaped by recent redistricting and is losing its incumbent, Bob Fioretti, to the mayoral race in February.
Each candidate will be allowed a three-minute opening statement, and will then respond to questions in rotation during the three-hour event. Attendees can submit written questions before the forum starts, and can meet with candidates after the debate at an informal reception.
The new 2nd Ward cuts through parts of the Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park and Bucktown, specifically on North Avenue from the Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues intersection west to Leavitt Street.
Fioretti, who filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the new ward map is unfair, told a group of Wicker Park residents in April that the ward remap was designed to defeat him.
Last month, Fioretti threw his hat into the mayoral race.
The pool of candidates to replace him includes two lawyers, a Fioretti staffer, an aide to Cook County Commissioner John Daley, a restaurant executive and a community organizer.
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