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AARP Candidate Forum - 08Aug08

By: Jessi Chapin

The AARP in Panama City is making sure voters are informed, with a candidate’s forum. 

Residents took advantage of a candidate forum and asked some tough questions of the people who want their vote.

Moderated by News13’s Jerry Brown; here’ were some questions from the state attorneys race:

Q: “So tell me why is winning so important that your willing to spend this money than the position actually pays?”

A: “I’ve demonstrated that I care about this enough to give up a very good job and a very good salary enough to run for state attorney,” said candidate Glen Hess, “But you know it’s important that we have good people running for all offices.  After all, this is America and we depend on those who seek public office.  It’s hard sometimes for good people to run for office because of the negative politics we see so much in our community.  I’ve made the decision that it’s important to have a good state attorney’s office and I ask for your vote for state attorney.”

“Every penny that I had put in to retirement for 10 years I put into state attorney,” said candidate Steve Meadows, “I did that this time because I care deeply about that office.  I care passionately enough to put my future in the hands of the voters to give them the opportunity to bring about with me, dramatic positive change in the community.  That’s something I want to continue to do.”

Q: “In the history of local politics, Mud-slinging and misinformation and miscarachterisation were published by advocacy groups.  If it happens again,what is your stance? will you denounce the ads?”

A: “I refer to this race as Sister Act II,” said Meadows, referring to Sister Martha Blackmon Milligan, his opponent four years ago, “She’s pretty much behind all of this.  She’s the one directing this opposition.  So I don’t expect her to be any different this time.  Quite frankly I expect the same type of race.  I hope I’m wrong. I hope that my opponent will be honorable and maintain it the way I think this race could be.  At the bottom of my sign it says the positive choice.  That’s the way I want it to stay.”

“When I announced that I was going to run for state attorney I made a pledge to each one of you that I would run a campaign worthy of your vote,” said Hess, “You haven’t seen any attack ads from my buddies.  You haven’t seen any people ripping down signs from my buddies.  And this thing about I’m a clone for somebody else, anybody that knows me knows that’s not true. And anybody that knows the calendar knows that bike week is the second week of the month.  And I try cases on the third week of the month.”