ELYRIA — Mayor Bill Grace, Holly Brinda and David Ursi Jr. traded words Monday at Elyria High School, where students hosted a debate for the candidates and peppered contenders with question about improving city roads to bringing jobs to the city and how each feels about the controversial Senate Bill 5.
The debate was mostly amicable with the candidates using their allotted time to speak their views. However, Grace and Brinda did not mince words when speaking of the other.
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Brinda is unprepared and untested, according to Grace, who she is trying to unseat by securing the Democratic nomination in May.
Grace, who is seeking a fourth re-election, is wasteful, has misplaced priorities and places aesthetics over basic city services and business development, Brinda said.
With a format that included both a five-minute opening and closing statement as well as two minutes each to answer six questions designed and asked by students, all three had an equal amount of time to rally potential voters to swing their way.
Ursi, the only Republican to attend the debate, will face off against fellow Republican Ray Noble on May 3.
He vows to give $20,000 of his salary back to the city and hire one student a month to work as mayor for the day, if he is elected.
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
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