Energize Framingham To Host Candidate Forum This Weekend

FRAMINGHAM, MA — City mayoral and City Council candidates will have an opportunity to tell residents where they stand on issues of climate and sustainability this weekend.

Energize Framingham has scheduled a candidate climate forum for Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The forum will be held in person at First Parish in Framingham Unitarian Universalist Church, Scott Hall, 24 Vernon St.

There will also be a concurrent live stream on Access Framingham that will be broadcast live on Access Framingham's cable channels.

“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,” said 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.

Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and his challenger, former School Committee member Geoffrey Epstein, have confirmed their attendance, organizers said. Candidates for City Council have also been invited, including those running unopposed.

There are four contested council races in the November elections, including:

• District 2, Brandon Ward and Carol Spack.
• District 3, Mary Kate Feeney and Kenneth Weiss.
• District 4, Michael Cannon and Steven Belcher.
• District 8, Leslie White Harvey and John Stefanini.

According to event organizers, State Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis will provide opening remarks before each candidate is introduced and given time for a brief opening vision statement.

The panel will begin with questions selected by the organizers and emailed to candidates in advance, on topics including 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.

The public can submit questions in advance by emailing info@energizeframingham.org.