With the first ‘Collierville Debate ’12’ less than a week away, voter interest is mounting as evidenced by the record-breaking attendance at the recent Collierville Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting.
Everyone in attendance at the Sept. 12 event had a chance to hear the candidates for mayor and aldermen during their brief 3-minute talks. Attendees also had the opportunity to submit questions that would later be reviewed by the Government Relations Debate Committee for the Oct. 2 and Oct. 16 debates at Collierville High School.
Gregory Frazier, chairman of the Chamber’s Government Relations Debate Committee, said his team is working hard to “present the candidates in an impartial, professional atmosphere, to connect the candidates to the issues and the voters to the candidates so that the voters can make informed decisions.”
As a component of Collierville Debate ’12, the candidates agreed to be individually interviewed, with Mickey Hutson, executive producer of CHS-TV 19, and his students taping each interview.
According to Frazier, the Government Relations Debate Committee carefully formulated the questions for the candidates.
The interviews will be shown on Channel 19, with the scheduled viewing announced later.
For those citizens who may not have cable access, the interviews will be posted on YouTube and copies of the interviews will be copied on DVDs for check out at the Chamber.
The interviews will be used by the Chamber in its communication with the public and perhaps by the candidates themselves as they state their positions and encourage the public to see what the other candidates propose on an issue.
The League of Women Voters will ultimately define the questions that will be asked on the Oct. 2 and Oct. 16 Debates.
The questions will not be given to the candidates prior to the debate.
The moderators for the debate will be Joe Birch, co-anchor Action News 5, WMC-TV; and, Peg Watkins and Judith Davis with the Memphis/Shelby County League of Women Voters.
Fran Persechini, president of the Chamber, stressed the importance of collaboration to make the civic event a success.
“We urge our citizens to be proactive – to be educated voters,” Dave Nelson, chairman of the Board. “We look forward to your active involvement in the myriad of opportunities that will connect you, the voter, with the candidates and the issues culminating with our Collierville Debate ’12.”
When – 6 p.m. on Oct. 2 and Oct. 16
Where – Collierville High School Auditorium
What – Mayoral and Aldermen Debate on Oct. 2; Collierville Municipal School Board Debate on Oct. 16
