Republican Mark Meadows and Democrat Tom Hill were the first to debate on WCU this election year. Photo by Alina Voronenko.
North Carolina U.S. congressman Mark Meadows (R-Jackson) will debate his opponent for the U.S. House of Representative for District 11, Rick Bryson (D-Swain) on Friday, Sept. 23, on WCU West Campus in room 204 of the Health and Human Sciences Building. Debate starts at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live online by WLOS-TV. The event is open to the public free of charge. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
This is the only debate that this candidates will have during this election cycle.
Meadows was elected to Congress in 2012. As a junior member of the N.C. delegation Meadows was recognized as a solid conservative (see his report card from Gov.Track.Us). He was among 25 other members of U.S. Congress who wanted to oust John Boehner as speaker on the House floor in January, 2015 and was a member of the group of GOP lawmakers who forced a government shutdown in 2013. He was also one of the GOP leaders who introduced a bill that stopped president Obama’s executive order on immigration.
Rick Bryson is an alderman from Bryson City. He defeated Tom Hill in the primary in June, 2016.
Ballotpedia rates this race as safely Republican.
WCU will host two other debates. On Wednesday, Oct. 12, is the debate between the candidates for the N.C. House of Representatives District 119 race – incumbent Joe Sam Queen (D-Haywood) and Mike Clampitt (R-Swain).
Wrapping up the series Thursday, Oct. 27, will be the contenders for the N.C. Senate District 50 seat, with incumbent Jim Davis (R-Macon) and opponent Jane Hipps (D-Haywood).
Providing an opportunity for residents of WNC to learn more about candidates for elected office is part of the university’s mission as a regional comprehensive institution, said Todd Collins, director of the Public Policy Institute, WCU PR office.
“Western Carolina University endeavors to be engaged with the region that it serves,” said Collins, who holds the David and Lois Steed Distinguished Professorship in Public Policy at WCU. “We hope that voters will embrace this opportunity to learn more about the issues that face our region and about the candidates seeking their votes. We encourage students, faculty, staff and members of the community to participate in the debates by submitting questions and to watch the debates in person or online. This will help them make informed decisions when they cast their ballots in November.”
WCU Public Policy Institute and Department of Political Science and Public Affairs are seeking questions from Western North Carolina voters to be asked during the debates.
Questions relevant to the races for U.S. House of Representatives District 11, N.C. House of Representatives District 119 and N.C. Senate District 50 should be submitted to the Public Policy Institute prior to each debate. Questions must be submitted by registered voters in the district, should be emailed to ppi@wcu.edu, and must include the name of the sender and the county of residence.
All three debates will be held in Room 204 of the Health and Human Sciences Building on WCU’s West Campus. Each debate will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live online by WLOS-TV.
