Mayor hopefuls Catazaro-Perry, Slutz competing in Oct. 5 debate at Lions Lincoln Theatre

Note: This story was changed to fix an error. See correction at bottom.

MASSILLON – The two candidates running for city's highest office are set to face off next month in what may be their sole one-on-one public debate.

Incumbent Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry, a Democrat, and city Councilman Jamie Slutz, R-at large, are slated to discuss city issues related to the mayor's position at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Lions Lincoln Theatre, 156 Lincoln Way E. Doors open at 5 p.m. inside the theater, which seats around 600 people.

"It's a good idea for people to come out and attend," said Debbie Busby, president of the Massillon WestStark Chamber of Commerce, a mayoral debate sponsor. "It's good for people to know who it is they're voting for."

2023 general elex: Check out what's on the Nov. 7 election ballot in Stark County

Both Catazaro-Perry and Slutz will be permitted to provide some questions they would like to see posed during the matchup, according to Busby, who said debate officials will huddle with the candidates to "work (their suggestions) into the mayoral conversation."

Fred Horner, president and chief executive officer of Massillon-based Advanced Industrial Roofing, and Stark County Commissioner Richard Regula are the scheduled moderators of the event, which is expected to run about an hour. Election Day is Nov. 7.

The debate, which is free to attend, could run until 6:45 p.m. if conversation is going well, Busby added.

The main debate sponsor Advanced Industrial Roofing, while the Massillon chamber, The Independent and Canton Repository are secondary sponsors.

Catazaro-Perry, Slutz ready to talk issues at Oct. 5 mayoral debate

Catazaro-Perry is seeking her fourth term as mayor. She is also a former Ward 3 city councilwoman.

Fiscal stability, continuous road resurfacing and catch basin upgrades, neighborhood improvements and cleanup, as well as filling key city jobs, are among the issues the mayor aims to broach during the October debate.

Eyes on buildings: Imagine Downtown Massillon seeks to bolster downtown

"I think we have a great story to tell," Catazaro-Perry said about her 12 years in the mayor's chair. "I always love talking about the success of our city."

In December 2020, Slutz was tapped by the Stark GOP to replace former Councilwoman Nancy Halter, R-at large, who had resigned. He won his first election bid as an at-large councilman in November 2021.

Slutz, 53, is a 1989 graduate of Washington High School. He played quarterback for the Tiger football team during his senior year. He also is a retired Massillon police officer and detective who served 22 years with the Police Department.

Beefing up the city's safety forces is a priority for Slutz if elected, and an issue he wants to discuss at the Oct. 5 debate. He said he wants to add to the Police Department's detective bureau, as well as add a traffic division and drug unit.

"Drugs aren't going away, and we need to fight that battle," Slutz said. "It's important to get our manpower up, too."

Massillon parks and city code enforcement are other topics Slutz said he'd like to talk about at the upcoming debate.

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE

Correction: Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry is a former Ward 3 city councilwoman. An incorrect ward was mentioned when this story first published Tuesday about the Oct. 5 debate between the two candidates running for Massillon mayor.

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Mayor Catazaro-Perry, Councilman Slutz to debate Oct. 5 in Massillon