Political Forum coming Friday
Latest update of participants from Warren First Facebook page.
As campaign signs continue to pop up across Warren County and Election Day inches closer, organizers of a political forum Friday hope to replace social media debates with face-to-face conversations.
Candidates seeking local, county, state and federal offices will gather tomorrow at the Warren County Administrative Building for a community forum designed to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from the people asking for their support before they head to the polls Aug. 6.
The event, presented by Warren First and Warren County Joy, begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Administrative Building, 201 Locust Street. Doors open at 5 p.m., and those unable to attend can watch the forum live on the Warren First 931 Facebook page.
For Warren First owner Kelly Walker Slaughter, the forum is an extension of the mission she's tried to build since launching the community media platform.
"My third year (with Warren First) I told myself I want to be able to tie myself with as many media companies, with as many businesses (as I could) to be supportive. I want this huge sandbox," Slaughter said Thursday during an appearance on the Simmons Says show. "I have done that so far."
That collaborative approach helped bring together Warren First, Warren County Joy, Warren County Way and the Warren County Sports Authority for Friday's event, which Slaughter hopes will give voters a chance to hear candidates answer the same questions under the same format.
"We're really looking forward to this," said Slaughter. "Again, we do know that unfortunately some people can't make it, but we want everybody's voice to be heard."
The Warren County Way and Warren First collabs continued Thursday with Kelly Walker Slaughter making an appearance at Studio 605 for the Simmons Says show.
Questions submitted by the public were collected before the event, though organizers said they would not ask questions directed at only one candidate or allow questions involving open court cases or ongoing investigations.
Veteran moderator James Clark will oversee the evening, something Slaughter said was an easy decision because of his decades of experience leading political forums.
"He has done so many political forums," said Slaughter. "He knows how to nail it down to a T."
The evening will begin with the two contested countywide races. County Executive candidates Terry Bell and J.C. "Junior" Pettit will each receive a three-minute opening statement, 90 seconds to answer a question and one minute for closing remarks. Sheriff candidates Jackie Matheny Jr. and Bo Ramsey will follow under the same format.
School Board candidates Monti Hillis, Nikki Reynolds and Chris Cope will be next before candidates for the Warren County Commission, Tennessee governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate are given an opportunity to address those in attendance.
Slaughter said she has heard criticism suggesting the event places too much emphasis on primary races, but she pointed to the schedule as evidence the focus remains on local elections.
"If you just heard me, the local elections are first," Slaughter said.
Candidates unable to attend have also been invited to submit written statements, which organizers plan to share during the program.
A full list of confirmed participants:
County Executive: Terry Bell (R), J.C. Petit (D)
Sheriff: Jackie Matheney Jr. (R), Bo Ramsey (I)
School Board
District 1: Monti Hillis (R), Nikki Reynolds (I)
District 5: Chris Cope (I)
County Commission
District 4: Blaine Wilcher (R), James Zahn (R)
District 5: Brad Hillis (R), Scott Kelly (R)
District 10: Brandon Knight (I)
District 11: Steve Glenn (I), Michael Bell (R), Tyler Simmons (R)
District 12: Kenny Moffitt (R)
U.S. House, District 4: Cliff Huffman (D), Mike Cortese (D), Tim Lanier (D), Victoria Broderick (D), Jacob Anders (I), Harold "Rocky" Jones (R), Tom Davis (R), Joyce Neal (D)
