NORTHAMPTON - Northwestern district attorney candidates Michael Cahillane and Dave Sullivan will square off in a debate at 7 p.m. tonight.

Sponsored by The Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Recorder, WHMP and Northampton Community Television, the debate will be held at JFK Middle School, 100 Bridge Road, Florence.

Cahillane and Sullivan are vying for the region's top law enforcement post in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary election.

People can watch the debate in person or on the web at northamptontv.org and gazettenet.com.

Smartphone users can watch the debate by using the Ustream Viewer app at www.ustream.tv/mobile/viewer and searching for northamptontv.

Northampton residents can view the debate on cable channel 15.

Audience members and viewers are encouraged to comment on the debate via Twitter using the hashtag #dadebate.

To submit questions for the candidates, email suggestions to newsroom@gazettenet.com with "DA debate" in the subject line.

###

Six city councilors back Sullivan

Six of the nine Northampton city councilors have endorsed Sullivan. A seventh councilor backs Cahillane, and the remaining two have not taken a public stance on the race.

Tuesday, councilors Jesse M. Adams (at large), Marianne LaBarge (Ward 6), David A. Murphy (Ward 5), Pamela C. Schwartz (Ward 4), Paul D. Spector (Ward 2) and Council President David J. Narkewicz (at large) issued a joint statement backing Sullivan.

"We want our district attorney to protect the citizens of Northampton and the rest of the region from crime and to bring a passion for justice to the job," the councilors said.

"Dave Sullivan has the judgment, legal experience and proven management skills to be a great DA. We believe he is the best candidate for this office."

Ward 3 City Councilor Angela Plassmann earlier endorsed Cahillane, a former assistant district attorney, citing his work investigating last winter's arson fires.

Councilors Maureen Carney (Ward 1) and Eugene Tacy (Ward 7) have not said whether they support either candidate. They could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

James F. Lowe can be reached at jlowe@gazettenet.com.