Six candidates in the Henderson municipal election participated in an impromptu candidates forum at the City Operations Center last night at 8:00 p.m.
The forum grew out of a challenge issued by Henderson City Council member Lynn Harper to her Ward 2 At Large opponent Michael Inscoe which was printed in Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Dispatch.
Harper rented the facility for the occasion from the city.
As many as 60 Henderson residents showed up at the appointed time, even though both the Dispatch and Home in Henderson reported early yesterday morning that Inscoe had declined to participate in the debate.
Jason Feingold, editor of Home in Henderson, had agreed to be the moderator of the debate. At 8:00 p.m., he announced that he would wait ten minutes for Inscoe to come. He told the audience that afterwards he would confer with the candidates who were present and offer them the opportunity to answer the questions he had prepared for Harper and Inscoe.
Inscoe did not arrive in the alloted time or at any point during the date.
Of the candidates who were present, Sara Coffey (Ward 1 at large) Henderson City Council member Bobby Gupton (Ward 2), Jeanne Hight (candidate for mayor), Council member Ranger Wilkerson (Ward 4 at large), and Council member Elissa Yount (Ward 3 at large) agreed to answer questions along with Harper.
Feingold stated to the audience that no candidate should feel compelled to answer any questions.
Ward 3 at large candidate Brenda Peace declined to participate. Ward 3 candidate Frank Terry, who arrived after the forum had begun, declined to answer questions as well when the format was explained to him and he was offered the opportunity to join in.
The format agreed upon by the candidates called for no opening statements, sixty second responses from the candidates, and an optional closing statement of sixty seconds from each candidate.
The video of the forum may be viewed here.