Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Maggie Klein.

Maggie Klein is offering to moderate weekly debates for the Pelham Manor candidates in the March election.

“With the mayoral position and two trustee seats contested, this is a consequential election that merits widespread information about the candidates and the issues, “she said. “I truly believe that candidate debates are the best way for challengers and incumbents to speak to voters beyond campaign statements.”

The Republican/Neighborhood parties have nominated incumbents Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey and Trustees A. Michelle DeLillo and Joseph Senerchia. The Democratic Party challengers are Ramsey McGrory for mayor, and Andrea Ziegelman and Lance Koonce for the two trustee positions.

Ms. Klein suggests weekly debates with the two candidates for mayor one week and the four candidates for trustee the next week; then the sequence would be repeated twice more through Election Day on March 16, 2021. The first debate (Mayoral) would occur next week, the week of February 1.  During the debates, candidates would be allowed to give timed presentations and timed responses to questions from the public.

The debates would be held at Pelham Manor Village Hall on a Tuesday or a Thursday where they could be filmed for live broadcast on Cablevision, FiOS and Facebook. A limit of 10 people could attend the debate, in addition to the candidates and debate moderator.

The candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Maggie Klein as soon as possible at [email protected] or 914-790-2790 if they are interested in participating in this debate plan.

Ms. Klein is former editor and publisher of The Pelham Weekly and pelhamlus.com; she has moderated numerous debates for Pelham Village and Pelham Manor Village candidates over several years.