Jackson ABC affiliate station, WAPT, is co-sponsoring several forums/debates for Jackson City Council candidates beginning tonight and running through April 30. The schedule, according to the WAPT Web site is:

Ward 3: April 13, at Wells United Methodist Church. Joyce Brewer will serve as a panelist.
Ward 1: April 16, at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church. Brad McMullan will serve as a panelist.
Ward 6: April 21, at Forest Hill High School. Scott Simmons will serve as a panelist.
Ward 5: April 23, at the Jackson Police Academy.
Ward 2: April 28, at Tougaloo College. Joyce Brewer will serve as a panelist.
Ward 4: April 30, at Word of Faith. Scott Simmons will serve as a panelist.

Voters can ask questions during the forums/debates, e-mail questions to [e-mail missing], or submit questions via the Feedback 16 line at 601-355-1616.

Previous Comments

ID

145875

Comment

I attended the Ward 3 forum last night. Stokes was not there. I was particularily impressed with a candidate whose last name is Michaels.(sp) He talked about the fact that there should be something to show for a councilman to be in office for 20 years. This guy is an Assistant Principal at Wingfield. It has been said in certain circles that President Obama would come in second to Kenny Stokes if he were in the Council race. LOL! I don't live in that Ward; however, I have a business interest there and remain concerned about what is happening to the area as well as Jackson at large. The League of Women Voters did an excellent job in the moderation of the forum. I was very impressed and will encourage people to support these forums. You really get a chance to hear the platform and political views of the candidates. WAPT deserves high marks and Joyce Brewer was excellent in the formulation and delivery of questions. By the way, John Horn came in late, chewing gum and talking. This was very disruptive. Hopefully someone will caution him on proper program ethics.

Author

justjess

Date

2009-04-14T08:48:08-06:00

ID

145878

Comment

I grew up in Ward 3. It would be easier to explain how to send a ship into outer space than explain Stokes hold on that Ward. He is really all that Ward 3 voters know, he is deeply entrenched in neighborhood. Everyone else is viewed as an outsider, as someone not to trust.... However, I applaud those individuals who keep running for Stokes' seat, because the point of an election is to defend your record and your accomplishments - competition is a good thing.

Author

lanier77

Date

2009-04-14T10:34:57-06:00

ID

145904

Comment

Well I hope that this forum will expose the people who are suppose to represent their district but they are the funkies of Frank Melton. I am talking about Charles Tillman and Frank Blunston. The City Council needs new leadership and the time is now! We can't go forward for going backwards.

Author

Tony Davis

Date

2009-04-14T16:39:03-06:00

ID

145907

Comment

[quote]However, I applaud those individuals who keep running for Stokes' seat, because the point of an election is to defend your record and your accomplishments - competition is a good thing. [/quote]How exactly is Stokes being forced to defend his record when he doesn't even have to attend the candidate forum in his ward because he knows he will be re-elected by a landslide?

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2009-04-14T17:03:07-06:00

ID

145910

Comment

Chewing gum? Please.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-04-14T17:08:14-06:00

ID

145916

Comment

Stokes is spending money for radio ads and probably a few other campaign expenses. If no one ever challenged the seat, then he could just get his suit cleaned and wait on July. I know that he didn't show up at the forum, and sooner or later this lack of accountability will sink his ship. So yes, I do applaud those people who make the deicision to run for the Ward 3 seat. What! Would you rather nobody ran?

Author

lanier77

Date

2009-04-15T07:42:45-06:00

ID

145919

Comment

Hell, he does that anyway, lanier77, lol. He just recycles the same radio ads every four years. I applaud people who dare to challenge him as much as I question their sanity. It's obvious Stokes has an unbreakable bond with his constituents, making it a waste of time and taxpayer money to hold a race in Ward 3 IMO. Just crown him Ward 3-Councilman-4-Life and be done with it already.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2009-04-15T09:24:32-06:00

ID

145937

Comment

I am hoping for good citizen participation in the Ward 5 forum. United Communities held a good forum and asked some hard hitting questions. I still haven't had an opportunity to see one of the candidates, Ms Benson-White who was ill during that forum but I'm going to be there with bells on to see what they all have to say! Don't want to hear any more rhetoric, just want them to be required to answer some yes and no questions.

Author

BuyJxn

Date

2009-04-15T15:28:52-06:00

ID

145958

Comment

I do think that the candidates opposing Stokes will have to make an issue of his absence. In the past, Stokes has always made up excuses and I must admit, pretty clever ones. "I wuz on my way to da metin but, Ms. Lucy got sick and I drov ha to da hospita." The s works!

Author

justjess

Date

2009-04-16T08:36:11-06:00