Roanoke’s mayoral campaign has grown spirited as three candidate forums in the last week were marked by feisty exchanges over policy and groan-inducing remarks on racism.

Republican nominee David Bowers and independent Councilwoman Stephanie Moon Reynolds jointly attacked Democratic Vice Mayor Joe Cobb over zoning and gun violence issues, while a remark from Bowers comparing U.S. chattel slavery to Britain’s treatment of the Irish stoked outrage.