2nd Congressional District Debate May 4

Five Democrats vying for the 2nd Congressional District seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder will face off in a debate May 4 at the University of Central Arkansas.

The debate will begin at 6 p.m. in the Ida Waldran Auditorium. It will give voters an opportunity to hear the candidates’ platforms before the May Primary.The candidates are:

Joyce Elliott, 59, is a state senator and educator from Little Rock. She taught for 30 years in public schools.

Robbie Wills, 39, of Conway was elected speaker of the house in 2007. Wills, a lawyer, has served in the state legislature since 2004.

David Boling, 45, was until recently the chief of staff to Congressman Snyder. The Pine Bluff native also worked for 10 years with the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Kennedy, 27, was the policy director at the Clinton School of Public Service and helped start the school’s speaker program. He also serves on the Board of the Arkansas Commission Against Sexual Assault.

John Adams, 33, is an adjunct professor at the UALR Bowen Law School and a tax attorney. He serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division and the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Committee on Foreign Relations.