WBZ Forced to Cancel Debate as Candidates Pull Out
By Allison Payne 10/8/17
Boston’s mayoral race intensifies between Mayor Martin J. Walsh and City Councilor Tito Jackson, as they both pull out of the debate that was scheduled for next Tuesday.
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The debate was to take place on the WBZ AM 1060 Radio, until the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1228 asked both candidates to step down because of a ongoing contract battle with WBZ-TV. The IBEW urged the candidates to boycott the debate until the station and its parent company, CBS Boston, grant higher wages to longtime employees.
Jackson wrote to Walsh asking for commitment to four debates before the general election on Nov. 7, and has criticized Walsh for not debating him and other candidates. Both candidates are scheduled to meet in a debate hosted by WGBH-TV on Oct. 24.