Forums, Voice debate to spotlight local candidates

| October 1, 2012

The Outer Banks Voice and Max Radio of the Carolinas will host their inaugural debate on Oct. 8, with seven of the candidates for the Dare County Board of Commissioners expected to participate.

Later in the month, the League of Women Voters of Dare will offer three forums.

The debate will start at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza in Kill Devil Hills.The Voice staff, with input from other media outlets, is putting together a list of questions. Unlike the more familiar forum format, office-seekers will be able to address opponents while answering questions and in a short rebuttal period after each round.

With so many candidates, it is not certain how many questions can be asked during the two hours allotted for the debate.

In a letter to the candidates, the Voice informed the candidates that it was up to them to determine if the event looks more like a forum or a debate. Our only rule is to keep criticisms of opponents civil.

The public is invited to the debate at the Ramada Plaza in Kill Devil Hills, and the Voice will also be video taping the event and recording audio for publication on our website.

Russ Lay and Sam Walker will be asking the questions. The moderator will be announced shortly.

Also in a run-up to the Nov. 6 election, the League of Women Voters has planned three voter forums.

The LWV has been conducting forums since 1988.

As in the past, each forum will follow the same format beginning with each candidate giving a three-minute introductory statement. Following those statements, candidates will respond to questions from the audience.

The format requires voters to submit written questions, legibly signed. League members will review the questions for subject matter, clarity and relevance to avoid repetition. After screening, the signer will be asked to step to the podium and pose the question to the candidates.

The moderator will continue to preside. A time limit of two minutes is allowed for each answer.

Each candidate is entitled to make a two-minute closing statement.

The first of the three will be the North Carolina Senate and House Forum, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 at the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The moderator will be LWV Co-President Lin Logan with candidates for state Senate Stan White and William Cook; for U.S.Congressional District 3 Walter Jones and Eric Anderson; and for state House District Mattie Lawson and Paul Tine.

The Dare County Commissioners Forum will be held Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Nags Head Meeting Room from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The moderator will be Pat Haresch. Candidates are: District 1, Richard Johnson vs. Alfred Jackson and write-in candidate Sandy Semans-Ross.; District 2, Robert Muller vs. Robert Woodard; District 3, Warren Judge; District 4: Allen Burrus vs. Kevin Conner.

The third forum, also with Dare County Commissioner candidates, will be held Sunday, Oct. 21. at the Avon Fire Station from 2 to 4 p.m. LWV Voter Service chair Mary Ellen Hawthorne and LWV Vice President Judy Krahenbuhl will moderate this event.

A code of election ethics pledge was sent to each of the forum candidates, emphasizing a value-based platform stressing four principles: honesty, fairness, respect and responsibility.

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See what people are saying:

  • Sandy Semans Ross says:

    Thanks, Russ, for the opportunity to participate in the Voice’s forum but just to be clear, I’m a write-in candidate for the District 1 seat, also being sought by Richard Johnson and Alfred Jackson.

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 2:21 pm

  • Ray Midgett says:

    The Kill Devil Hills Town Hall and Nags Head Meeting Room are not large enough to accomodate the number of people who would attend if a larger place were made available. I get tired of attending meetings in places like this and have to stand or there isn’t enough air in the room to breathe. We all talk about wanting more meeting spaces in the county, but we refuse to use what we already have.
    How about Jennettes Pier,FF High School Auditorium, the Justice Center, Adm. Bldg., Community Center,any one of our public gyms, just to name a few

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 3:49 pm

  • Ray Midgett says:

    Anyone want to bet that Editor Russ Lay didn’t take the above photo of the campaign signs? Subliminal message? :) :)

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 5:31 pm

  • K says:

    Not sure if I missed it in the article, what is the location of the October 8 inaugural debate. It states the public is welcome.

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 5:35 pm

  • johnr says:

    Ray seems to make a great point. Surely, it isn’t too late to obtain a venue that can accomodate the potentially large number of voters desiring to attend, is it?

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 6:24 pm

  • Rob Morris says:

    The Ramada. Sorry for the omission.

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 7:42 pm

  • Russell Lay says:

    We asked two public sector venues if we could use them and were told no because we are a for-profit entity. A free debate wouldn’t cover the cost of renting the pier. We have different rules than some of the non-profits who hold forums.

    As yes Ray, I took the picture but since you posted I was a “closet Limbaugh Republican” what subliminal message am I sending?

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 10:39 pm

  • Russ Lay says:

    Sandy–sorry, we took that part from the LWV press release.

    • on October 1, 2012 @ 10:50 pm

  • Ray Midgett says:

    That you intend to vote for Romney/Ryan & Muller, that’s what, Russ. :)
    As to being a Rush Limbaugh Republican.:)
    You haven’t given up on the Red Sox, ham radios and cigars yet, have you? :)

    • on October 2, 2012 @ 9:31 am

  • Jeff says:

    Looking forward to the debate. Thanks for taking this on.

    • on October 2, 2012 @ 9:57 am

  • tb97 says:

    remember what Muller did in Nags head about the sand issue

    • on October 2, 2012 @ 12:29 pm

  • Ray Midgett says:

    I find it funny that Muller, who has as many signs out as Paul Tine is shying away from Southern Shores, the town he loves to hate. :)

    • on October 2, 2012 @ 2:02 pm

  • Russ Lay says:

    Ray–If you truly knew me, you’d know who I was voting for. My Facebook friends can tell you. But, as usual, you are wrong on this one.

    • on October 2, 2012 @ 6:15 pm

  • Kevin Gray Conner says:

    With such daunting challenges facing Dare County, I hope that we can have a debate filled with ideas and solutions, rather than politics as usual. People deserve better from candidates and politicians alike; there’s a lot that is at stake. We need to solve problems and a debate focused on ideas is the only method to pursue.

    • on October 2, 2012 @ 7:09 pm

  • Sean says:

    Ray: If it’s too small, don’t go. By the way, I haven’t seen any Obama signs around town to be photographed. Your claims are obviously distractions from the real issues. Why so mean-spirited?

    Russ: Keep writing! Our community needs you!!

    • on October 4, 2012 @ 11:18 am

  • Chris says:

    Yes it does!

    • on October 8, 2012 @ 8:50 pm

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