FRANKLIN—A monthly political newspaper will host a debate for Franklin’s mayoral candidates at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at City Hall.

Mayor Jim Councill and challenger Greg McLemore, the Ward 3 councilman, will attend. Councilwoman Raystine Johnson will not.

Johnnie Edwards, assistant editor of My Vote in Suffolk, which covers politics in the 4th Congressional District, said the May 1 mayoral race was chosen for a debate because “it’s a very interesting race” and Franklin’s 50-plus-percent black population.

“We attended the first hosted by The Tidewater News and we loved it,” he said.

Hampton Roads radio show host Cheryl Wilkerson will moderate. Questions will come from the newspaper and the public.

McLemore said he will participate because he likes to make himself available to anyone with questions about his candidacy. The 53-year-old is making his second bid for mayor in four years.

McLemore favored holding the debate at City Hall so it can be shown on the city’s public-access cable channel.

“This way it could be on television,” he said. “A lot of citizens can’t make it to the forum. This way they can sit in the comfort of their home.”

The debate will air three times daily until the election, said McLemore, who is employed by Paul D. Camp Community College.

Councill, 67, didn’t think another forum was warranted, but agreed to participate.

“I think we had an extremely fair (debate hosted by The Tidewater News),” said the owner of Councill Financial Services. “Steve (Stewart, publisher) did a commendable job.”

Johnson, 53, is the owner of Wm. M. Johnson and Sons Funeral Home.

The mayor’s job pays $10,437 a year.

A monthly political newspaper will host a debate for Franklin’s mayoral candidates at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at City Hall.