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Candidates to answer voters in open forum
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT, Times Staff Writer
BROOKSVILLE -- The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will host a public forum tonight that is expected to feature many of the local, state and national candidates on the Nov. 5 election ballot. The forum will begin at 6 p.m. in the County Commission chambers at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 N Main St., Brooksville, and it will be broadcast live on television and radio. Hernando County Government Broadcasting will telecast the forum on cable Channel 19 beginning at 6:30 p.m., and WWJB-AM 1450 will simulcast. Channel 19 plans to rerun the program several times before Election Day. Chamber executive director Jacqueline Morris says voters are invited to help fill the 160-seat auditorium. "We'd like to have a full house," said Morris, who has helped organize the forum, which will include all opposing candidates in County Commission District 2, County Commission District 4, Florida House District 43, Florida House District 44, Florida Senate District 11, U.S. House District 5 and School Board District 1. Morris said she hoped the high visibility of the congressional race might pique public interest and lure residents into paying more attention to other contests. "I think the congressional race is one that's had high visibility everywhere, not just here locally," she said. "That's certainly going to be of interest, but local races are absolutely a direct connect to the national races. It's a continuation." Questions for the candidates will come from taped man-on-the-street style video of Hernando County residents. Forum organizers interviewed people of different ages and backgrounds, asking what questions they would pose to candidates if given the opportunity. "In reviewing those questions, we just think they're terrific," said Morris. "And this format will make it more interesting to the viewers." If the format doesn't bring voters to the County Commission chambers tonight, Morris hopes the promise of something else will. Light refreshments will be served.
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