Citizens of Champaign will have the chance to learn more about each candidate in the upcoming mayoral election at a debate Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library.

Don Gerard, facilities manager for two schools of biology at the University, will face incumbent Jerry Schweighart, who has held the mayoral position along with being Champaign’s Liquor Commissioner since 1999. A previous debate set for March 7 was canceled by Schweighart’s office citing scheduling issues.

The debate is being hosted and organized by the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana and will be moderated by Laura Weisskopf Bleill and Amy Hatch, editors of the website chambanamoms.com. According to its website, the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana is committed to improving the community by participating in projects, educational programs, conferences and advocacy efforts.

Bleill said a format for the debate is being decided on but should be pretty standard. Questions for the candidates are coming from a variety of different sources.

“The questions have been solicited from the community,” Bleill said. “We have received some via e-mail, some that you can see on our site and the (Junior League of Champaign-Urbana) has also solicited some questions.”

Schweighart said he thought it was important for the community to have a debate due to the “definite contrast” between the two candidates.

“It’s important to get some of the facts out to the public, because information that is put out over the Internet is not always factual,” he said. “It’s important to have the two candidates face-to-face.”

Gerard said as he faces the current incumbent, he is expecting to receive less press coverage than the current mayor. He added that the debate would allow people to have more information to base their decision on.

“The best way to do that is to put the two candidates together, side by side, talking about the issues, because a lot of the role of the mayor is representational, not legislative. It’s really about who you want to represent the community,” Gerard said.

The two biggest issues Schweighart said he hoped would be brought up in the debate were Gerard’s budget proposal and how Gerard would handle his current University position along with the mayoral position.

Gerard said he expected to be questioned on the candidate’s respective experience ­­— “certainly the budget is going to be a topic, possibly unofficial, possibly something relating to the community and the police officers.”

Schweighart said his experience in public service was the leading reason why he is the best candidate for mayor.

“That’s been what my life’s work is. A police officer for 32 years, I worked with solving problems. It’s something I enjoy doing,” he said.

Gerard cited his ties to the community and his disposition as traits that would make him the best candidate for the new mayor of Champaign.

“It’s something that the dynamic of my life fits. My personality and my pragmatism and so forth are of the nature (so) that I would do a good job,” Gerard said. “If I didn’t think I would do a good job, I wouldn’t give it a shot.”