League of Women Voters Candidate Debate

League of Women Voters Debate, June 19, 2014
Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

The Jefferson County League of Women Voters hosted a Candidate Debate and Forum for the August 7, 2014 election, on June 19, 2014 in the Ted Russell Building on Carson Newman University Campus. Due to the number of potential candidates the decision was made to split the group into two rooms, with candidates from Commission Districts 1-5, School Board District 1 and Highway Commission District 1 in one room and candidates in Commission Districts 6-10, School Board District 3 and Highway Commission District 3 in another room. Mayoral Candidates switched rooms to allow both rooms the opportunity for questions.

Dale Gentry served as Moderator for Room 1 (Districts 1-5) and Carolyn Blevins was Moderator for Room 2 (Districts 6-10). Candidates present were afforded one minute for an opening statement, two minutes to answer questions and one minute for closing.

Candidates present by seat sought/district were – County Commission District 1 Maples and Huffaker-District 2 had no candidates present-District 3 had no candidate present-District 4 Turner and McGraw-District 5 Seals, Potts, Griffin and Stefaniak- District 6 Taylor-District 7 Akard, Bales-District 8 Tucker-District 9 Seal and District 10 Reed and Beeler.

School Board candidate for District 1 Potts and District 3 Jarnigan, Burton-Highway Commission District 1 Batson and District 3 had none present, according to information provided by the League of Women Voters.

Both Mayoral Candidates, Palmieri and Dockery, were present at the event. Questions to all Candidates were presented via the moderator and questions were taken in writing from the public before the start of the event.