08-04-2025
Erie Dem mayoral candidates Schember, Devlin, Woeger to face off in TV debate
The Democratic candidates for Erie Mayor — incumbent Joe Schember and challengers Daria Devlin and Sheila Woeger — have agreed to take part in a televised debate next week.
The closed debate will take place on April 16 at 1 p.m. at the WQLN studios, 8425 Peach St.
Cindy Spizarny, WQLN's president and CEO, said the debate, a WQLN collaboration with Erie News Now, will be closed to the public. It will be broadcast on WQLN, WICU and WSEE at a later date.
The debate moderators will be Lisa Adams and Mike Ruzzi from Erie News Now.
Schember, who was first elected in 2017, is seeking a third four-year term. Devlin is a current Erie School board member and the director of social impact for Hamot Health Foundation.
Woeger is a retired substitute teacher.
The three are seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor in the May 20 municipal primary. The Democratic nominee will be a huge favorite in the Nov. 4 municipal election because of the city's more than 2-1 Democratic voter registration edge.
Republican Matthew S. Thomas is also in the race, and local public transit advocate Julie Minich has announced she plans to run for mayor as an independent in November.
No Republican has been elected mayor of Erie since Charles Williamson in 1961.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Democrats vying for Erie mayor to face off in televised debate
