Manatee Black Chamber of Commerce hosts candidate forum

The Manatee County Black Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum Thursday night at Touch of Class.

The forum is open to both Bradenton and Manatee County candidates running for office, but only six city candidates responded to the invitations. According to Tarnisha Cliatt, president and CEO of the chamber, invitations were sent by email. At least two candidates told the Bradenton Herald they did not receive the invitations.

Ward 1 Councilman Gene Gallo said he heard about the forum secondhand and went back to review his emails and could not find an invitation. However, he said he would not be able to attend because of a conflict. One of his opponents for the Ward 1 seat, Tamara Goudy, was not on the initial list of attendees, but said Wednesday she would attend.

Others scheduled to attend include mayoral candidates Warren Merriman and Eluetero Salazar Jr., and Ward 5 incumbent Councilman Harold Byrd Jr. and his opponent Keenan Wooten, as well as Ward 1 challenger Devon Davis.

Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston also said he did not receive an invitation and was unaware of the event until contacted by the Bradenton Herald. His opponents have openly criticized him for not responding to debate invitations.

“I’m not going to debate anything until after June 24,” said Poston, noting that was the final day of qualifying. “We don’t even know who all of the opponents will be until then.”

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 3:50 PM with the headline "Manatee Black Chamber of Commerce hosts candidate forum."