TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa voters will get another chance to hear from mayoral candidates on Wednesday night. 

The seven candidates vying to replace Mayor Bob Buckhorn will discuss their plans for the city's future.

The candidates include former police chief Jane Castor, current councilman Harry Cohen, small business owners Michael Hazard and Topher Morrison, current councilman Mike Suarez, philanthropist David Straz, activist LaVaughn King and former commission Ed Turanchik.

The city will be electing a new mayor for the first time in eight years as Buckhorn was first elected in 2011. He was reelected unopposed in 2015.

The candidates will have plenty to discuss with a variety of issues concerning the city's future including transportation, education, the growing business environment and construction boom and a tight budget. The debate starts at 7 p.m. 

Election Day is March 5. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates move on to the April 23 runoff.

Spectrum Bay News 9 is bringing the candidates together for the mayoral race's only televised debate. Voters will get to hear the candidates lay out their plans for the city's future and focus on the major issues from education, transportation, safety, and growth.

Bay News 9 anchor Holly Gregory will moderate the live, televised debate. It will be held in the Mainstage Theater at Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor City Campus.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and no entry admitted after 6:45 p.m. All guests must have a ticket in order to enter the Theater. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The program also will replay at 7:00 p.m. on January 12. 

The Candidates 

Jane Castor, former police chief

Harry Cohen, member Tampa City Council

Michael Anthony Hazard, small business owner

LaVaughn King, activist

Topher Morrison, small business owner

David Straz, billionaire philanthropist

Mike Suarez, member Tampa City Council

Ed Turanchik, former County Commissioner