September 5, 2002

DEBATES GO DIGITAL:
CANDIDATES ADDRESS THE ISSUES
24-HOURS A DAY ON GOV-TV  

Charlotte, NC – Beginning Saturday, September 7, viewers with digital television receivers or Time-Warner customers with digital cable can view debates for Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and U.S. House of Representatives – 24-hours a day.  The debates will be broadcast round-the-clock on GOV-TV through the primary election on September 10, giving voters plenty of opportunities to hear the candidates.   

GOV-TV is a new digital channel dedicated to government information, administered by public television station WTVI and Mecklenburg County's Public Service and Information Department.  GOV-TV broadcasts over-the-air on digital channel 11.2 and can be viewed on Time-Warner digital cable channel 232. 

The debates were produced by the League of Women Voters and taped on Wednesday, August 28 at WTVI's studios.  They will be broadcast in three hour-long programs, to be repeated during the four-day period. 

·         Board of County Commissioners

Republican at-large: Sandy Brown, Tom Cox, Joy Isenhour, and Dan Ramirez
Republican District 6: Bill James and Dick Yoder 

·         Board of County Commissioners

Democratic District 2: Richard McElrath and Norman Mitchell
Democratic District 3: Eric Douglas, Gyasi Foluke and Valerie Woodard 

·         U.S. House of Representatives

Democratic 8th Congressional District: Tripp Helms, Chris Kouri, Billy Richardson, and Ray Warren
Democratic 12th Congressional District: Kimberly Holley and Mel Watt 

The debates will also air on WTVI, Channel 42 on Sunday, September 8 from 1 – 4 p.m. and repeatedly on The Government Channel – Time-Warner Cable Channel 16.