Public invited to candidate debate for Sansom's seat
If you like politics, then we hope to see you at Northwest Florida State College Sunday afternoon.
The Crestview News Bulletin's sister paper, the Northwest Florida Daily News, is sponsoring a debate at the college between Republican candidates in the special election for the District 4 state House seat.
The public is invited to the debate, which will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Building K campus mall. The recommended way to Building K is via the college’s west entrance.
The Republican primary is March 23. The winner will face Democrat Jan Fernald in the April 13 general election.
The winner will replace Ray Sansom, who resigned from office three weeks ago, the day before a House special committee was to begin a hearing examining ethics charges against him.
Five Republican candidates are seeking to succeed Sansom. They are:
l Former Destin Mayor Craig Barker.
l Matt Gaetz, an attorney in Okaloosa County.
l Former Fort Walton Beach City Councilman Bill Garvie.
l Former state Rep. Jerry Melvin.
l Kabe Woods, a leader of the Okaloosa Citizens Alliance.
The debate will be moderated by Pat Rice, director of content for Florida Freedom Newspapers.
Many of the questions that will be asked at the debate were submitted by Daily News readers.
