A Durham election open mic from People of Durham is available to watch online ahead of the October 26 municipal election, bringing together candidates for local councils and public school board seats.
The channel’s recording offers a different format from its individual campaign interviews: an open conversation in which candidates and members of the public could request to join through YouTube’s Go Live Together feature.
Daily Durham reported the initiative on October 25. The organizer’s own video page confirms the programme, identifies the guests in a chapter list and links the conversation to Monday’s vote. The recording is available as a replay; readers should not assume the broadcast is still accepting live guests.
Municipal and school board races represented
The video’s published chapters list Whitby mayoral candidate Chris Leahy, Ajax Ward 1 council candidate Malcolm Barrington and Whitby Centre Ward council candidate Akuah Frempong among the early guests.
Other chapters identify Pickering DDSB trustee candidates Sinthuja Kanageswaran, Khadiza Manjra and Walton Armstrong Jr.; Ajax DDSB trustee candidate Syed Rizvi; and Ajax Regional Council Ward 3 candidate Stephanie Ashton.
The programme also includes Whitby East Ward 4 council candidate Walter Perdigao, Oshawa Ward 3 city council candidate Sylwia Lesner, and Ajax mayoral candidates Carion Fenn and Marilyn Crawford. The chapter list lets viewers move directly to the conversations that relate to their own ballot.
Channel describes a non-endorsing format
People of Durham says it does not endorse any candidate and describes its goal as helping voters get to know the people seeking office. That is the organizer’s account of its approach, not a recommendation from All About Durham about any participant.
The stated open-mic format allowed guests to join one at a time, with roughly five to 10 minutes per person when a queue formed, potentially less if needed. The description also asked contributors to keep the discussion respectful.
The Durham election open mic is a campaign conversation, not an official voting service. For voting locations, identification requirements and available voting methods, residents should consult their own municipality’s election information.
Featured image: original conceptual editorial illustration, not a photograph of the actual podcast studio or participants.
