8th Cong. Candidates in Halloween Debate

Fort Greene Association is sponsoring a debate featuring 8th Congressional District candidates at Brooklyn Music School on Oct. 31.

Confirmed are Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Alan Bellone and Colin Beavan of the Green Party.

Beavan and Bellone, along with Democrat Charles Barron, had previously gone head-to-head in a FGA debate held on June 4. Jeffries, who at the time was locked in a close primary battle with Barron, declined to participate.

On Tuesday, Beavan was critical of a political process he said stifled discourse.

“This is what democracy regularly looked like in the age where candidates would face each other in front of the electorate throughout the campaign season,” Beavan said.  “Unfortunately, the rule now is ‘as little interaction as possible’.”

Jeffries is considered a heavy favorite to win in a redrawn district that includes much of Central Brooklyn and a sliver of Queens. The winner will succeed retiring Rep. Edolphus "Ed" Towns.

The debate will begin at 7 p.m. at Brooklyn Music School, located at 126 St. Felix St. For more info, visit Fort Greene Association's website.