The Durham Chamber of Commerce Policy Council organized the forum.
"We want to make sure that people who actually heard from the candidates were actually able to engage with them, to really have an understanding, because the businesses are suffering just like our community," said Angelique Stallings, the Vice President of Community Investment with Durham Chamber of Commerce. "When the businesses are suffering, the community suffers as well. So we want our business community to really be able to lean in with the candidates, to hear what they have to say and see how they can support."
The forum and networking event brought out candidates from Ward 1, Ward 2, and Ward 3. Three of the five candidates for mayor of Durham also addressed the room.
Candidates laid out their plans for Durham's future, which included ideas around affordable housing, public safety, and economic development.
Mayoral candidate Pablo Friedmann said his ideas on economic development differ from those of incumbent Leonardo Williams.
"I think the mayor's position on development is dead wrong," Friedman said. "The narrative that we currently have on development. It doesn't have to be that way. We can have a different vision where there's a win for the community, a win for the environment, a win for our local schools, and a win for developers."
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Mayoral candidate Anjanee Bell said development is inevitable in a growing city.
"It's very important that we think about being smart and sustainable, and the people who are choosing to be here and not operating from an extreme speculative space that we are thinking of the ways to grow and not displace," Bell said.
She added that before looking at new development ideas, safety should be addressed.
"Before we can think of any of those things, any new ideas, is for us to consider the layers of safety, safety across the board," she said.
Williams addressed public safety, calling it his No. 1 issue.
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"Safety is my top priority, you know, because I can't talk about economic development if I don't help people to really enjoy it. So interestingly about the criticism, because crime is down 26% in Durham," he said.
Williams is leaning on the progress he's made as mayor.
"Under my leadership, we are, we now have a model for growth. Under my leadership, you can actually see where Durham is headed. And we're on a national stage now. And so I just want to continue to build on that, " he said.
The forum comes two days before early voting begins in Durham for the city's municipal primary election. Early voting will continue through Oct. 4.