Tonight's Debate to Take on a Traditional Format

Tonight's mayoral candidate debate sponsored by the Vernon Education Association will take on a traditional format.

All four candidates will have an opportunity to respond to each question, organizers said.

The response order will be rotated. At the end of the debate each candidate will have a few minutes to address the audience, organizers said.

Moderator Annie Gentile will ask that applause be held until the "very end of the evening," organizers said.

The VEA debate is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. at Rockville High School.

The Mayoral slate includes, in a randomly selected order:

• James Krupienski, a petitioning candidate and current unaffiliated Town  Council member.

• Pauline Schaefer, the endorsed Democratic candidate currently sitting on the Town Council.

• George Apel, the endorsed Republican candidate who is currently the treasurer for the Board of Education.

• Gordon Paterson, a registered Republican running as an petitioning candidate with no party affiliation. He has sat on numerous boards in town.