Dr. Paul Shaw, candidate for Walker County’s sole commissioner, said he has gotten no response to a debate challenge next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring.
He took out half-page ads in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on both Wednesday and Thursday "with no response."
The retired LaFayette family physician called on current Commissioner Bebe Heiskell to a one-hour, one-on-one debate.
Dr. Shaw said, "No notes, no prepared statements, no electronic devices.
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He stated, “She (Ms. Heiskell) has attacked me mercilessly through a negative mailing campaign, and I hope she will now meet me face-to-face.”
He said plans are underway to stream the event via the Internet.
Dr. Shaw says two earlier debates, before Concerned Citizens for an Informed Electorate and the Walker Chamber of Commerce, "although welcomed, were far from complete."
He said, “We were only able to touch the tip of the iceberg. With only a total of three minutes, far too much has not been covered. I hope to deal with specific issues Walker County voters and taxpayers want to hear debated.
"Those include why taxes continue to rise, why there is only paltry job creation for our citizens, and specifics on how Mountain Cove Farms was funded and where those millions of dollars are going.”
He said the event will take place "regardless of whether Commissioner Heiskell accepts. I have rented the Center, and if she does not appear, I will discuss the issues with the citizens who do appear. Still, I respectfully ask her to come before me and her constituents.”