Rockville Candidates to Face off in First Debate of the Season

With nearly a month until the Nov. 5 Rockville's election, the eight candidates vying for mayor and city council will debate for the first time this election season.

Rockville Community Coalition is hosting the debate 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Social Hall of Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Dr. 

Former Maryland State Delegate Cheryl Kagan will be the moderator.

Rockville's City elections are held every two years, at which time the mayor and four council seats are up for election. Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio and Councilman John Hall Jr. aren’t running re-election this year.

In addition to choosing a new mayor and four city council members, Rockville voters will be presented advisory referenda on proposed changes to the city’s charter that would add two more council seats, extend terms of office for mayor and council to four years, and change when elections are held. 

Three council members have entered the election: Bridget Newton and Mark Pierzchala are running for mayor; Tom Moore is running to keep his council seat.

The other city council candidates are: Julie Palakovich Carr; Beryl L. Feinberg; Donald H. (Don) Hadley; Virginia Onley; and Claire Marcuccio Whitaker.

Rockville Community Coalition is a nonprofit and non-partisan civic group. The Coalition was randomly chosen by the city—which will televise the debate on live Rockville 11 and online—and was responsible for determining the format and which questions will be asked.

The city will televise two other debates:

• Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. —Twinbrook Citizens Association at Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, 12920 Twinbrook Parkway
• Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7:00 p.m.—League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Maryland at Thomas Farm Community Recreation Center, 700 Fallsgrove Drive

The debates will be posted to the city’s official YouTube channel.