Republican Jim Davis and Democrat Jane Hipps, candidates for state Senate District 50, will debate at WCU on Oct.27 at 7 p.m. in room 204 of the Health and Human Sciences building down the street across from the main campus.
This will be the last of several local debates that have taken place at WCU this semester. The first one was for North Carolina’s district 11 in the US House of Representatives on Sept. 23. Republican incumbent Mark Meadows faced off against Democrat Rick Bryson. The second was on Oct. 12 for the 119 district of the North Carolina House of Representatives and Republican Mike Clampitt went up against incumbent Democrat Joe Sam Queen.
These debates are sponsored by WCU’s Public Policy Institute and Department of Political Science and Public Affairs. The debate will be broadcast live online by WLOS. The event is free of charge and the door opens at 6:15 p.m.
This is not the first time Davis and Hipps have run against each other. They faced off two years ago for the same position and Davis won his third straight term with 53 percent of the vote.
Davis was first elected in office in 2010 and since has been very active on issues of education. In the debate from Oct. 11 he defended his record on education as some who voted for increase of teachers salary, expend charter schools and opportunities for minorities, according to the Sylva Herald.
Hipps believes strongly in the preservation of the environment. She says “We must work together to lower our energy consumption, generate green businesses, invest in solar energy, protect and preserve our rights as property owners, and participate in smart development that doesn’t require trading our souls or degrading our land.”
Southwestern Community College hosted a political forum on Oct. 11 where they heard from both candidates. They both discussed important issues relevant to the area such as education, NC Promise and taking care of the elderly.
Thursday night will be most likely be their last night to make much of an impact on the minds of voters. Each candidate will have to have their best performance if they want to be able to breathe easy for the next couple weeks leading to the elections on Nov. 8.
Early voting on WCU’s campus starts on the day of this debate, Oct. 27, so if you haven’t voted, go listen to what they have to say and before you cast your vote.
