At least one debate for the nine candidates seeking elective offices in New Smyrna Beach will be held before the Sept. 22 primary. The Town Hall-style debate is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 in the clubhouse at Bouchelle Island, 409 Bouchelle Drive, on the South Causeway.
The public is invited, but encouraged to carpool as an overfill crowd is expected to hear from the candidates in three separate sessions. Each session will begin with candidate introductions and questions from the moderator, followed by questions from the audience, including the press, followed by questions from the candidates to each other.
Here is the schedule:
9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Zone 2 city commissioner:
Stephen Sather, Palmer Wilson and incumbent Jack Grasty.
10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Zone 1 city commissioner
Frank Dalton Jr., Judy Reiker and incumbent Randy Richenberg.
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. mayor
Marilee Walters, Adam Barringer and incumbent Sally Mackay.
PHASE I
Moderator will address approximately 4 Questions to each Candidate (same Questions asked of each).
Topics will be limited to the following:
a. 2010 city budget including the proposed 27 percent millage-rate increase and the reserve fund. Question may also include fiscal responsibility, City spending, and the generation of other revenues.
b. Financial Impact of the three union contracts with the city of NSB. This question may include possible alternatives to the current benefit structure of these Union Contracts. Question may also allow candidates to discuss possible consolidation or regionalization of certain public safety services
c. Question may address the large number of current leases of city-owned property to numerous private and commercial entities.
d. Question will address the major challenges of NSB currently facing our elected officials.
e. The issues of growth and economic development confronting the City Commission against the backdrop of maintaining the tradition and character of NSB.
Each candidate will have three minutes to respond to each question. Follow-up questions may be asked by the moderator at his discretion.
PHASE II
Questions from the audience:
Moderator will address the audience before citizen participation in order to establish the "Ground Rules" for citizen input.
Citizens asking questions must be residents of New Smyrna Beach.
* Each Question will be addressed to all candidates;
* No Questions of personal issues will be permitted;
* Moderator will allow or disallow Questions, in his discretion;
* Three-minute limit on answers.
PHASE III
If time permits, each candidate will be allowed to ask the other two candidates one question (three-minute limit on answers).
Closing remarks for each candidate (three-minute limit for each candidate).
Members of the committee were Bouchelle Island residents Lee Goodman, a retired professor of communications at Purdue University, and Bill Koleszar; Bob Tolley and Robert Rees; Jamye Durance, reporter at Hometown News and your's truly. The moderator is Jason Allen of Channel 9, ABC Orlando.