Newcastle residents will have the chance to ask questions of their lord mayoral candidates at a public forum on Thursday.
The Hunter Community Forum will host the lord mayoral candidates contesting the September Newcastle local government election at the City Hall event on August 29.
Newcastle Herald columnist and social commentator Paul Scott will emcee the forum. HCF co-convenor and former Greens councillor Therese Doyle said Liberal candidate councillor Callum Pull was the only candidate who had declined to attend.
"This will be the only opportunity that the people of Newcastle will have to ask questions of their lord mayoral candidates," Ms Doyle said.
"In these times of social media posts and quick sound grabs, it is more important than ever for lord mayoral candidates to present themselves to the people and explain why they should be chosen by the voters."
Fellow co-convenor Ron Brown said the group was keen to facilitate a "meaningful engagement between the community and the candidates".
"We will ask candidates to outline their policies and plans for ensuring that they lead a council that is open, transparent and accountable to the people," Mr Brown said.
Each candidate will be given 10 minutes to address the audience before being asked to answer submitted questions that touch on some of the critical challenges that face this city.
The meeting will then invite members of the audience to ask questions of the candidates.
The forum will run from 6-8pm and will be livestreamed on the Hunter Community Forum Facebook.
