SOUTH BRONX — Several candidates competing for Maria del Carmen Arroyo's former seat on the City Council will face off on Wednesday night in a forum at the historic Pregones Theater.
The program, put on by the non-profit Nos Quedamos and co-sponsored by DNAinfo, is set to start at 6:00 p.m. in the theater at 571 Walton Ave., and a small number of free tickets are still available on the forum's Eventbrite page.
An extremely crowded field of candidates is vying to replace Arroyo, and so far, 10 have committed to attending the forum, according to Nos Quedamos and the candidates:
► Rafael Salamanca, district manager of Bronx Community Board 2 and president of the 41st Precinct Community Council
► Julio Pabón, a businessman and activist in the South Bronx who ran against Arroyo in the 2013 election
► Amanda Septimo, a staffer for Rep. Jose Serrano
► Rev. J. Loren Russell, a preacher and businessman in The Bronx
► Joann Otero, Arroyo's chief of staff
► Helen Foreman-Hines, political project director at the union 1199 SEIU
► George Alvarez, a former candidate for the State Assembly and South Bronx businessman
►Marlon Molina, a founder of the Bronx Volunteer Coalition and member of Bronx Community Board 3
►John Perez, an Army veteran
► Carlton Curry, former Bronx Assembly District 77 candidate
Space at Pregones Theater is limited, but fans of local politics can also go to viewing parties in The Point at 940 Garrison Ave. and in Cinco de Mayo at 837 Washington Ave. to watch the forum, according to Nos Quedamos.
Organizers are asking people attending the forum to arrive at the theater around 5:30 p.m.
The candidates are competing to represent the 17th City Council District, which covers neighborhoods like Hunts Point, Longwood and Melrose.
The seat opened up after Arroyo made a surprise announcement in November that she would step down at the end of the year, and the special election to replace her has been set for Feb. 23.
