First Selectmen Candidates Commit To Newtown Bee Debate

By John Voket

All four candidates for the town’s top elected post have agreed to participate in a debate sponsored by The Newtown Bee scheduled for Monday, October 19, in the theater at Edmond Town Hall. A meet and greet opportunity for attendees and participants will begin at 7 pm in the lobby, and the 90-minute debate will commence promptly at 7:30 pm.

Democrat Gary Fetzer, Republican Patricia Llodra, Bruce Walczak of the Independent Party of Newtown, and petitioning unaffiliated candidate Patrick Heigel will all take the stage to respond to questions.

Bee Editor and debate moderator Curtiss Clark is inviting residents to submit question via email or post, in advance of the event. Anyone mailing questions can post them to: Newtown Bee 2009 Debate, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06770, or email them to editor@thebee.com with the words “Debate Question” in the subject line.

Submissions can be directed at one candidate, or any combination of the four.

“In the past, these debates have given voters an opportunity to see how the candidates for Newtown’s top office conduct themselves in public, how well they think on their feet, and how effectively they communicate their vision for Newtown,” Mr Clark said this week. “With no incumbent seeking reelection this year, the event should be of keen interest to every voter,” he added. “I hope we have a good crowd.”

 Based on the outcomes of the previous two first selectmen debates at the town hall, the format remains relatively consistent, although The Bee is planning to post video profiles of contenders for the Board of Selectmen on its website, versus opening the debate by allowing Board of Selectmen hopefuls to introduce themselves to the debate audience.

Video interviews with the first selectman candidates, as well as Republican Will Rodgers, Democrat Joe Hemingway, and William Furrier of the IPN, will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

The 2009 debate format, as outlined to the contenders, includes opportunities for opening statements up to three minutes each. Then the moderator will pose questions to the panel.

“While some questions may be directed to specific candidates, any candidate may take on any question using up to three minutes to respond,” Mr Clark said.

After all candidates have been given an opportunity to answer a question, 90-second rebuttals will be allowed before moving on to the next question.

At the end of the evening, candidates will have an opportunity to make a closing statement of up to two minutes.

In the weeks ahead of the hotly contested local elections, The Bee will also be running responses to a candidate questionnaire and bio which is circulating now among those seeking elected office on the November 3 ballot.