WASHINGTON (7News) — 7News spoke to each Ward 8 candidate and learned whether they were for or against possibly developing RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

In just over 6 weeks, Ward 8 will elect its new or repeat councilmember.

One of the first significant projects the winner could vote on is the possible development of the RFK Stadium. The city council’s original soft deadline to approve it was July 15, the same day as the special election for Ward 8.

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According to the mayor’s office, the deadline has now shifted to early August. Whoever wins is expected to be certified and sworn in around August 8.

7News asked each candidate, Mike Austin, Sheila Bunn, and Salim Adofo, if they supported the RFK stadium.

“I think it will be a great opportunity for us to create some jobs for residents in the district,” Adofo said. “It’s also a great opportunity for economic development and to push our community forward. However, we do want to see some more benefits for the community.”

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“I want to make sure it is a mixed-use development, not just a stadium, because that’s not substantial,” Bunn said.

“If I were elected today, I don’t think in its current form it’s ready to go,” Austin said. “So we need steeper investment east of the river, we need steep CB commitments, and steeper job growth for wards 7 and 8.”

All three are concerned with the stadium’s actual benefits for residents.

“I want to make sure if I do have an opportunity to have a say in this development that there is a strong community benefits agreement that we are hiring locally so that Ward 7 and 8 residents have an opportunity to work on those construction jobs and permanent jobs,” Bunn said.

“It’s important for us that we be more than just the security that’s walking around the site,” Adofo said. “We can develop the security systems, we can be architects, contractors and subcontractors. We want more than just the retail jobs; we want to be part of the entire process.”

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“The seasonal jobs are great, and they do play an important role in our economy, but we have to do more,” Austin said. “To do that we have to get to the point where we’re investing in our people for high-wage jobs, not just the concession jobs or jobs in the stands but making sure we’re investing deeply. There should be no job at the stadium that’s not filled by a Ward 7 and 8 resident.

7News reached out to candidates all week; the only candidate who didn’t respond in time for this report was former councilman Trayon White. He’s running again for the seat he was removed from earlier this year.