Cumberland mayoral candidates will not be debating on Wednesday evening, despite mayoral candidate Eduardo Uranga’s hopes.
A week before the election, Uranga invited incumbent Leslie Baird to discuss local issues at a last-minute debate, an invitation that she has declined.
“The reason I created the event is because I’m the only one contesting her in the last eight years and there is a lot of unanswered questions,” said Uranga. “When it was done at the all candidates meeting, it’s obvious that the questions were not directed to the mayor candidates, they were directed to council.”
Uranga says he believes he has a good chance of winning the election.
“My impression is, yes, my chances are very good,” he said. “And that is based on me talking and knocking on doors.”
Baird says Uranga did not wait for her to respond to the request before planning the event and sharing it on social media.
“He emailed me at 10 p.m. on Saturday night, I answered him [Monday], but I hear he booked the room, he’s done all the stuff without confirming with me that I would attend,” she said.
When asked why she decided to decline the invitation, Baird said, “there’s nothing further to discuss with him.”