Press Release: WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, has confirmed the candidates participating in the primary edition of “Rally 2012,†a live, primary and general election television candidate forum featuring races in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. “Rally 2012†will air on WSRE over three nights — Tuesday, July 24 through Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m. nightly. The program is hosted and moderated by longtime local reporter Drexel Gilbert and Sandra Averhart, WUWF-FM News Director. The second installment featuring candidates for the general election will take place in October.
The primary races covered in “Rally 2012†are scheduled to include the following races/candidates in order of appearance:
Okaloosa County Races – Tuesday, July 24 @ 7 p.m.
Sheriff – Larry R. Ashley (R), A. Sheridan Lowrey, II (R), Steven Menchel (R), Tony R. Taylor (R)
Tax Collector – Ben Anderson (R), William (Bill) J. Roberts, III (R)
Superintendent of Schools – Mary Beth Jackson (R), Alexis C. Tibbetts (R)
County Commission District 3 – Clint Aden (R) , Nathaniel (Nathan) Dodson Boyles (R), Dennis Allen Reeves (R), Bill Smith (R)
County Commission District 5 – Felix Beukenkamp (R), Joe Fagundes (R), Larry Hines (R), Charles K. (Kelly) Windes (R)
School Board Member District 4 – Rob English, Catherine Thigpen*, JB Whitten
Santa Rosa County Races – Wednesday, July 25 @ 7 p.m.
Clerk of the Court – Mary M. Johnson (R), Donald Charles Spencer (R)
County Commission District 1 – Charles James Williamson (R), Thomas Franklin Stewart (R), D. Mark Cotton (R)
County Commission District 3 – Marvin Fowler, Sr. (R)*, J. Ed Carson (R), Jeffrey D. Kelley (R), William Donald Salter (R)
County Commission District 5 – C.H. Pete Southerland (R)*, Randal Lane Lynchard (R)
School Board District 2 (non partisan race) – Edward Hugh Winkles, Joseph Monroe Pool
School Board District 4 (non partisan race) – Charles W. Elliott, Jennifer G. Granse, William Chrysler Bledsoe, Jr.
Sheriff – Chuck R. Sloan (R), Wendell Hall (R)
Superintendent of Schools – Dr. George R. McCormick (R), Timothy Steven Wyrosdick (R)
Supervisor of Elections – William Allan Buck Lee (R), Tappie Ann Villane (R)
Escambia County & Other Races – Thursday, July 26 @ 7 p.m.
Public Defender First Judicial Circuit – Bruce A. Miller (R), James Owens (R)
State Rep. District 2 – Jeremy M. Bosso (R), C.V. (Clay) Ford (R)
State Rep. District 3 – Doug Broxson (R), Jayer Williamson (R)
Circuit Judge Group 15 – Terry Ketchel, Thomas S. Murphy
Clerk of the Circuit Court – Pam Childers (R), Ernie Lee Magaha (R)
Sheriff – David Morgan (R), John Russell Powell (R)
County Commission District 1 – Jesse Casey (R), Wilson Robertson (R)
County Commission District 3 – Lumon May (D), Clinton Earl Powell, Sr. (D), Annie Thomas Walker (D)**
County Commission District 5 – Sam Archer (R), Glenn Austin (R), Steven Barry (R), Pat Burkett (R), Jim A. Taylor (R)
ECUA District 1 – Vicki H., Campbell (R), Logan Fink (R)
ECUA District 3 – Calvin Avant (D), Benell English (D), Elvin McCorvey (D), Clorissti Mitchell (D)
ECUA District 5 – Barry B. Tweedie (R), Larry Walker (R), Charlou Williams (R)*
*Not available to participate
** Not confirmed as of July 18, 2012
“Rally 2012†is co-produced by WSRE and the League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area and Okaloosa County. The purpose of “Rally 2012†is to give citizens an unbiased look at the candidates vying to represent them and learn where they stand on the important issues that affect them. WSRE, a service of Pensacola State College, provides the program as a public service and encourages all citizens to participate in exercising their constitutional right to vote in the upcoming August 14 primary election.