CD 8 Special Election Debates

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The other day I tried shaming our money-grubbing local media villagers into sponsoring some debates in the CD 8 Special Election Why are there no debates in the CD 8 Special Election?, and ta-da! One stepped up, although it is our sad small town newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star. Barber and Kelly will hold CD8 debate May 23:

Democrat Ron Barber and Republican Jesse Kelly have agreed to square off in a live, public debate on May 23 sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Jewish Community Center.

The debate will start at 7 p.m. at the Jewish center, 3800 E. River Road. Green Party candidate Charlie Manolakis has also been invited.

The debate will feature a mix of questions from Star readers and staff members.

This is the only currently scheduled debate in which voters will be able to watch live as Barber and Kelly discuss the issues facing the district in a head-to-head format prior to the June 12 Congressional District 8 special election. It will be held in the JCC Ballroom, which seats in excess of 500 people. Seating will be first come, first served.

KUAT Channel 6 will air a candidate forum featuring Barber and Kelly on May 16 at 6 p.m. that will be taped earlier in the day. The taping of the forum is not open to the public.

Can we please get probative questions on substantive policy issues instead of the lame questions the Star has been running in its pages like this: "Since you entered political life, what have you learned about yourself that you didn't know before?" CD8 hopefuls on history, self-knowledge. Dear God, they make my head hurt!

If you would like to submit a question to be considered for the May 23 debate, please send it no later than May 21 to politics@azstarnet.com. Questions should include the submitter's name and a telephone number and/or home address. Readers will be credited by name for questions used in the debate. Addresses and telephone numbers are for verification only and will not be made public.

I appears the Star did not check the update to my earlier post. There is another forum in Sierra Vista the Star fails to mention.

The Sierra Vsta Herald reports Barber, Kelly to participate in forum at Sierra Vista VFW post:

Some members of the area veterans community are hoping to find out on May 19, when Republican Jesse Kelly and Democrat Ron Barber will take part in a forum at VFW Post 9972.

Each candidate will speak separately to the group at the event hosted by the Greater Sierra Vista Area United Veterans Council.

Stu Carter, who will be moderating the forum, said Kelly and Barber will be asked questions pertaining to veterans issues only.

Saying he expects each candidate to take about 20 minutes out of their half hour to answer specific questions developed by him and Gene Fenstermacher, Carter said the remaining time will be open to the floor for additional queries.

“But the stress is veteran only issues (of the questions from the floor),” said Carter, who is registered as an Independent.

Kelly is to be first to speak at 8:30 a.m. followed by Barber at 9 a.m.

Neither candidate will be in the room at the same time, Carter said on Tuesday.

Individuals who want to attend the veterans issues event are asked to be at the VFW hall by 8:15 a.m.

The United Veterans Council will be the second scheduled forum for both men.