CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman Tribune will resume its political debates in March. Hosted and filmed at The Tribune office, the debates will be an up-close deep dive into local candidates’ positions and opinions on a wide range of topics relating to the offices for which they are running.
The 2024 Primary Election will take place March 5, and two local races will be featured at the debates on Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.: Cullman Circuit Court Judge, Place 2 and Cullman County Schools Superintendent.
The first race will see current Cullman County Attorney Emily Niezer Johnston and local attorney Melvin Hasting face off for the seat which will be left vacant when Cullman County Circuit Judge Martha Williams retires. As of press time, Johnston has not committed to attending, participating or fielding constituents’ questions during the debates. Her allotted time will be forfeited to Hasting and become a question and answer forum as opposed to a two-candidate debate.
Cullman Tribune Publisher and debate organizer Noah Galilee said, “Questions have been compiled by Tribune staff, and up until the moment we start the debates, I will not know what the questions are. These are questions that were sent in by the public and some were crafted by our crew. It’s been narrowed down and they’re going through the final lists, choosing 10 questions for the superintendent candidates and 10 questions for the circuit judge candidates.”
Since 2013, the Cullman County Schools Superintendent position has been an appointed one. Incumbent Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette and his opponent Morris Williams will each answer questions gathered through social media, in-person forums and straight from teachers and staff within Cullman County Schools.
“Thank you to Dr. Shane Barnette and Morris Williams for being so cooperative and getting the debate set. We appreciate them taking time out of their schedules just a few days before the election to give us an unbiased debate,” said Galilee. “I wanted to thank Melvin Hasting for replying and checking in periodically to make sure we were still on for the debates. I would also like to thank Cullman GOP President Alex Cheney for encouraging all to participate.”
The Cullman Tribune debates will air Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at www.facebook.com/CullmanTribune.
Copyright 2024 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
