The University of Scranton next week will host debates of candidates running in the May 20 primary election for Democratic and Republican nominations for city mayor.
A pair of debates — including one for each party — will take place Tuesday, April 22, at the PNC Auditorium in the Loyola Science Center:
Democrats: Incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan will debate from 6 to 7 p.m.
Republicans: Accounting executive Patricia Beynon and business owner Lynn Labrosky will debate from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
The debates will be open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to capacity limits, the university said in an announcement.
Both debates will be recorded by Electric City Television for airing at a later date.
The university’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service website also will post video of the debates.
Winners of the primary will advance to run in the Nov. 4 general election.
The mayoral term on the ballot is for four years.
Mike Mancini and former Scranton Sewer Authority Executive Director Gene Barrett also have announced intentions to run as independents in the Nov. 4 general election for mayor.
Meanwhile, three four-year terms on the five-member Scranton City Council also will be on the ballot.
The Democratic primary election has six candidates: Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Frankie Malacaria, Sean McAndrew, Todd Pousley and incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster.
The council seats up for grabs are those of Schuster and two held by Bill King and council President Gerald Smurl. King and Smurl are not running in the primary for reelection.
Republican Marc Pane also is running in the GOP primary for a nomination for council.
In January, a split council voted in favor of raising the annual salaries for the mayor and council members to take effect in 2026.
Smurl, King and Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild voted in favor of adopting pay-raise ordinances, while Schuster and Councilman Mark McAndrew voted against the salary increases.
The pay of the mayor will rise from $75,000 to $95,000, a 27% increase of $20,000; while the pay of council members will increase from $12,500 each to $18,000, a 44% increase of $5,500, all effective Jan. 1.
Under the city’s Home Rule Charter, council cannot authorize mayoral and council pay raises during current terms of office, but can raise salaries to take effect in the future.