SALISBURY, Md.- Salisbury mayoral candidates had the chance to explain their positions and even some stains on their past during the mayoral forum at Salisbury University Tuesday night.
The event was hosted by Salisbury University, and Salisbury University’s Institute of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement. Questions came from the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Salisbury Committee. Candidates Randy Taylor, Megan Outten and Jermichael Mitchell were questions on their past.
First, Taylor was questioned over his Facebook posts going back to November of 2020, that moderator Bill Chambers said quote "ardently support that conspiracy that Biden and Democrats stole the election from Donald Trump."
"There was a major swing in the turn out of the election or the turn out of the votes both in quantity and on size so I had sort of a normal reaction... I'm not an election denier. Joe Biden won the election," said Taylor.
Moderators asked Megan Outten to explain why she has two DUI convictions on her record from 2014 and 2020.
"I'll be candid. This wasn't a proud moment of my life. I am one of the five women who are going to be experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime. It was a rather dark moment of my life and I am immensely proud of the hurdles that i overcame as a woman," said Outten.
Jermichael Mitchell was asked to explain his guilty plea of an accidental gun discharge from this past spring...which police say traveled five feet away from a neighbor who was nursing her infant.
"I was in the process of preparing my weapon. Somehow a bullet got lodged as I was closing my gun it went off, accidentally. Accidental discharges happen all the time that's why I was only charged with accidental discharge and I plead guilty," said Jermichael.
Candidates largely agreed on what were some of the biggest issues facing the city, like juvenile crime, housing and city fiscal responsibility.
Those attending the forum like Michael Butler said it was a great opportunity to learn more about the candidates.
"It was a great night everybody who came out got to see all of the candidates, the questions that they asked and how they asked the questions, and how they answered the questions, that was amazing," said Butler.
Voter Billy Earl says he likes these kind of events every election season.
"I am very much in favor of these kinds of events because the population needs to know more about the people that we are electing to run our government," said Earl.
The election in Salisbury is on November 7th. The entire forum can be viewed on Pac14's website.
