The College Democrats of Connecticut (CDCT) announced on March 27 it would host a Newtown Pre-Caucus Democratic Debate on Thursday, April 2, at 7:30 pm, in the auditorium of Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road.

Candidates Michelle Embree Ku and Brandon Moore were both invited to participate. Embree Ku and Moore have both launched campaigns for the 106th District Legislature seat. He announced his in late January, and she announced hers in January. They are running against incumbent Republican Mitch Bolinsky, who has served seven terms. Bolinsky and his team formally launched his re-election campaign on Presidents Day.

The pre-caucus debate at the high school will be moderated by the CDCT Executive Board and will include both moderated and audience-submitted questions.

Embree Ku did not accept the invitation to participate in the event, however. She confirmed that news this week on a phone call with Newtown Bee Editor Jim Taylor, during which she also referred to a pair of forums “discussed and agreed on by the candidates” that are planned for this month and next. The League of Women Voters will moderate those events, according to a Letter to the Editor from Embree Ku going in print and online this week.

In an email to The Newtown Bee on April 1, College Democrats of Connecticut President Ryan Rosario said his group “absolutely” plans “to move forward with the event as scheduled."

“Our team has put a lot of time and energy into organizing this, and we remain committed to giving voters in House District 106 a real space for engagement, especially given that this is the first competitive State House primary in the state,” the email continued. “This is consistent with our broader mission of facilitating meaningful engagement with Democratic candidates in competitive primaries.”

Rosario said CDCT’s Executive Board will pose questions to Moore on Thursday evening, and will take questions from Newtown residents in the audience.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.