Candidates’ Debates:WCAT and Republican Committee Hold Forums for Candidates Competing in Election

The three candidates for president of the Winthrop Town Council – Jeffrey Rosario Turco, Ronald Vecchia, and Richard Boyarjian – were set to participate in a live debate Wednesday night at the WCAT Studios.

Mike Cabral, executive director of WCAT, said that John Macero, former superintendent of Winthrop schools, would serve as moderator of the forum. The panelists who would be asking questions to the candidates were: Kate Anslinger of the Winthrop Sun Transcript, George Rainville of WCAT, Vin Recchia of the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, and Alyssa Ferrara, president of the Winthrop Student Council.

Cabral expected that the debate would last approximately two hours. He said the debate would be broadcast on Winthrop’s Comcast channels 3, 15, and 22 beginning today and on several other dates leading up to Election Day.

Residents can also view the town council president’s debate on WCAT’s YouTube channel.

Robert Driscoll Jr. resigned as town council president on May 23. Russell Sanford is serving as the interim president of the council until January. At that point, the winner of the Nov. 7 council president’s election would be inaugurated.

In other election news, former Winthrop selectman Martin O’Brien said the Winthrop Town Republican Committee will host a Town Nonpartisan Candidates’ Night tonight (Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.) at the Cottage Park.

O’Brien, who is a member of the Town Republican Committee, will serve as moderator of the forum. O’Brien indicated that 17 of the 21 candidates running for election to all town positions are expected to participate in the event.

The event is open to all voters and citizens of Winthrop.

Complete coverage of the  debates will appear in the Transcript.