Election Day is November 4. Where do our Mayoral and City Council candidates stand on climate and sustainability? Are they committed to moving Framingham forward?
Framingham voters will get answers October 18 at the Candidates Climate Forum. It takes place 6:30-8:30 p.m. at First Parish in Framingham Unitarian Universalist Church, Scott Hall, 24 Vernon Street, Framingham Centre.
A concurrent live stream on Access Framingham (https://www.accessfram.tv/live) will also be broadcasted live on Access Framingham’s cable channels (Astound HD Channel 1100, Astound Channel 3, Comcast Channel 9, Verizon Channel 43).
“We want to help Framingham residents understand what climate actions the Mayor and City Council candidates are really ready to deliver upon during their term in office,” says Aimee Powelka, community lead for Energize Framingham and organizer for the event.
The forum will be co-moderated by Powelka and Miriam Naguib, a student from the Framingham High School Environmental Club. The forum is sponsored by Energize Framingham. Co-sponsors are the FHS Environmental Club, First Parish, and the Plymouth Church in Framingham UCC-Green Team.
Invitee list
Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and his challenger, former School Committee member Geoffrey Epstein, have confirmed their attendance. Candidates for City Council have been invited, including those running unopposed (Christine Long/District 1, Noval Alexander/District 5, Phil Ottaviani/District 6, Leora Mallach/District 7, and Tracey Bryant/District 9).
There are four competitive City Council races:
- In District 2, Brandon Ward is being challenged by Carol Spack.
- In District 3, Mary Kate Feeney and Kenneth Weiss are both vying for the seat of Adam Steiner, who chose not to run for a fifth term.
- In District 4, Michael Cannon is being challenged by Steven Belcher.
- In District 8, Leslie White Harvey will be challenged by John Stefanini, who she ran against two years ago.
Councilors whose terms are not yet up (at-large councilors George King and Janet Leombruno) have also been invited. To date, both mayoral candidates and about half of the city council candidates (mainly those in contested races) have indicated they will attend.
Event format and agenda
After brief opening remarks by Massachusetts State Representative Jack Patrick Lewis, each candidate will be given time for a brief opening vision statement. Questions selected by the organizers and emailed to candidates in advance will follow. Topics include solar energy, adoption of the state’s Specialized Building Code, municipal electric vehicles, and – if voters approve the revised City Charter on Nov. 4 – their vision for a new Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer included in the charter.
Moderators will take additional questions from the audience and from questions emailed to Energize Framingham in advance.
The evening begins with informal socializing from 6:30-7 p.m. The panel forum will run from 7-8:30 p.m.
The public can submit questions in advance by emailing info@energizeframingham.org and identify their current City Councilor by using this lookup tool.
Energize Framingham is a climate action organization that provides education, outreach and advocacy to promote a healthy, equitable and resilient community.
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