Democratic mayoral debate at Temple University scheduled for May 4

A Democratic mayoral debate will be held May 4 at Temple University as part of The Next Mayor project, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com announced Thursday.

The debate is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required: http://phillymedianetwork.ticketleap.com/the-next-mayor-debate/.

The event will be co-moderated by Daily News Editorial Page Editor Sandra Shea and WHYY Senior Reporter Dave Davies. The format will cover all the key issues that face the city — education, taxes, quality of life, economic development, transportation, technology policy and more. The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, Philly.com and their partners will accept questions for the candidates via Twitter. Questions can be tweeted to @phillydotcom with the hashtag #NextMayorPHL.

"Philadelphia Media Network is delighted to host this important debate just two weeks before the primary.  The format will provide voters a final chance to hear directly from the candidates on the issues most critical to the city's future," said Stan Wischnowski, vice president of news operations.

The event will be at Temple's 1,200-seat Performing Arts Center (1837 N. Broad St.).

The Next Mayor project is an initiative designed to provide voters with coverage on the mayoral race to elect a successor to Mayor Michael Nutter. Along with the two newspapers and website of Philadelphia Media Network, the partnership includes WHYY/Newsworks, Temple University's Center for Public Interest Journalism, The Committee of Seventy, Technical.ly Philly, WURD Radio, Young Involved Philadelphia and others.

It is made possible by a grant from the Wyncote Foundation.