Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray participates in a rally on the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol, October 9, 2013 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government shutdown is entering its ninth day as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain gridlocked on funding the federal government. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Mayor Vincent Gray. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Mayor Vince Gray will attend the third mayoral forum of the 2014 campaign season tonight, his first such appearance since declaring his reelection campaign.

The forum on public education will be hosted by the Washington Teachers’ Union from 6 to 8 p.m. at Eastern High School, 1700 East Capitol Street NE. Also confirmed to attend are Councilmembers Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Vincent Orange (D-Ward-At Large) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), as well as Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal and former State Department Aide Reta Jo Lewis.

Update: Councilmember Muriel Bowser will not attend this evening’s forum, as she has a longstanding previous engagement and an invitation to the forum was only extended to her before Thanksgiving, according to her campaign manager.

Wells has been the most outspoken with his criticism of Gray (“We cannot ignore that the mayor ran a corrupt campaign“), while Evans has painted himself into a bit of a corner by praising the mayor. Tonight will be the candidates first chance to make their case against Gray to his face.

Filed Under: dcision 2014, dcision2014, mayor vince gray, mayoral candidates, mayoral debate 2014,