DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow will face off against his opponent, Frank Van Buer, in a Northern Star sponsored debate on March 23.

The debate format includes questions from the Northern Star Editorial Board and will be moderated by a member of the board.

In addition, the audience and key groups or individuals at NIU will have an opportunity to pose questions to the candidates. Audience questions will need to be submitted prior to the event on notecards.

The debate will give each candidate a chance to question their opponent.

Van Buer and Sparrow will each pose two questions to their opponent. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to queries from the opponent.

Both mayoral candidates said the debate was a good idea.

“I thought from the very beginning it was a good idea,” Van Buer said.

Sparrow emphasized the interest NIU students should take in this spring’s mayoral election.

“They have a vested interest here,” Sparrow said. “Students certainly pay taxes in the community.”

Less than 5 percent of DeKalb’s revenue comes from property taxes, Sparrow said. Students pay sales and utility taxes which is where the majority of city revenue comes from.

The election for mayor and other city offices is April 5.