Preview: Square Off Special mayoral forum

Crime, education and thousands of vacant and dilapidated homes - some literally falling apart are among the issues the next mayor of Baltimore has to figure out how to solve. ABC2 is airing a "Square Off" special Sunday with the top candidates vying for that office.

 

The fight for votes has certainly gained momentum in the past several weeks, and there are a range of important issues for voters to decide. The Square Off special, taped Friday afternoon, was another opportunity for voters to key in on which candidate they will support, but this time, candidates took the chance to confront each other on their records.

 

It comes as the latest polling shows six candidates emerging as favorites among voters: Sen. Catherine Pugh, D-Baltimore City, led polling by a small margin, followed by former city mayor Sheila Dixon and businessman David Warnock.

 

 

Attorney Elizabeth Embry and city councilmen Nick Mosby and Carl Stokes rounded out the field. Candidates sounded off on key issues, like schools, as long time Square Off host Richard Sher moderated.

 

ABC2 anchor Kelly Swoope gave candidates a chance to hear from real voters as taped questions gave them an opportunity to respond.

 

They were also given a chance to directly question each other.

 

But the primary is fast approaching, a fact made clear by special attention paid to the fields  front runners, as both Pugh and Dixon weathered questions about their records and campaign donations from some of their opponents.

 

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