The three candidates running for mayor of Waterville will meet in their first debate of the campaign Friday morning.

Democrat Steve Aucoin, Republican Nick Isgro and unenrolled candidate Karen Rancourt-Thomas are vying for the mayor’s seat.

City Democrats nominated former councilor Aucoin for the office at a party caucus last summer. Aucoin is director of maintenance for the Alfond Youth Center. Isgro was nominated by Republican caucus and is making his first bid for city office. He is controller at Skowhegan Savings Bank.

The unenrolled candidate is City Councilor Karen Rancourt-Thomas, D-Ward 7, who surprised observers when she announced at a council meeting in August that she would seek the office. Rancourt-Thomas filed the required signatures on a nomination petition to appear on the ballot without an attached party affiliation.

The debate, hosted by CATV, the local access cable television station, will be held at 10 a.m. in the City Council chambers in The Center in downtown Waterville.

Waterville attorney John Nale, a frequent program host on the cable station, will moderate the one-hour debate. CATV is based in Fairfield, but its programs air on Channel 7 in Waterville.

The three candidates are vying to replace incumbent Mayor Karen Heck, who is not seeking reelection.

Another debate is scheduled for later this. The Morning Sentinel will host a debate with the mayoral candidates at Thomas College on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m.