Galloway, N.J. – The Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University is partnering with The Press of Atlantic City and Triax57 to televise a live debate between Atlantic City mayoral candidates Marty Small Sr. and Thomas Forkin.

The debate will be held live at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room at Stockton’s Atlantic City campus.  Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the public will not be allowed to attend in person.  Atlantic City residents can submit questions to be asked during the debate by emailing them to ddanzis@pressofac.com.

The broadcast will be available on several websites: The Press of Atlantic City at pressofac.com; Triax57 at www.triax57.com  and the Hughes Center stockton.edu/hughes-center. It will remain available for reviewing through Election Day on Nov. 3.

“A critical part of our election process is the ability of residents to hear directly from the candidates, but because of restrictions due to COVID-19, that isn’t happening as much this year,” said  Buzz Keough, Editor of The Press. “Through this broadcast, we hope more people will be able to gather the information they need before they cast their ballots.”

Small, the incumbent Democrat, has been a member of City Council since 2003. Forkin, the Republican candidate, is a former assistant city solicitor and vice chair of the Atlantic City Republican Club. The race is for a one-year unexpired term created when former Mayor Frank Gilliam resigned last year after pleading guilty to stealing from a youth basketball program.

Atlantic City is currently operating under state control as part of an effort to strengthen city finances and diversify the city’s economy beyond casinos.

Press Staff Writer David Danzis will moderate the debate along with John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. Triax57, an Atlantic City-based television and media production company will broadcast the debate.

“The Hughes Center is proud to cosponsor this event as part of Stockton University’s commitment to community engagement in Atlantic City,” Froonjian said.