Brock University will host the second St. Catharines mayoral debate.

Five candidates will make their case to lead Niagara’s largest city in front of voters Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. The municipal election is Oct. 27.

Hosted by Brock’s Department of Political Science, the debate is open to the public and will be moderated by Professors Janique Dubois and Sanjay Jeram.

Mayoral candidates Jeff Burch, Jim Fannon, Peter Secord, Walter Sendzik and Mark Stevens will all have a two-minute opening statement and then the moderators will ask each to respond to three general questions.

Following that, audience questions written and passed to the moderators will be presented to the candidates.

A range of issues will be discussed, including economic development, infrastructure, poverty, community life, taxation, the arts, and Port Dalhousie/downtown revitalization.

After 90 minutes, candidates will give short closing statements.

The first mayoral debate Monday drew an audience of 400 at Ridley College.

“Our department, and the University generally, have a duty to raise awareness about matters important to the community,” Jeram said. “Also, we believe exposure to a debate of this nature will spark an interest among students to get involved in their community.”