Tonight the election season kicks off with the first mayoral debate between 4-year Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger Randy Morris.
The debate, hosted by the Athens County League of Women Voters, will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Athens County Public Library.
The candidates will face two rounds of questioning from the media followed by a session of questions from the public. The questions will be vetted ahead of time to insure fairness and a lack of bias.
“Anytime you have a dialogue … and forum with voting it’s good,” Wiehl said. “The forum is a good time to crystalize your ideas.”
Both candidates have made the student vote a central part of their campaigns.
“Our elected leaders must stop the us-vs.-them mentality, stop blaming ‘the students’ and address anyone whose behavior is an issue,” states Morris’ website.
Morris also said in a September interview with The Post that he plans to meet regularly with OU’s Student Senate to ensure problems facing students are “on the radar” for the administration.
In terms of student interaction, Wiehl said they are more than welcome to attend town-hall meetings and disagrees with allegations that his administration “demonizes” students.
“I don’t look at it as students and residents,” Wiehl said. “I see it as short-term and long-term residents.”
As for his campaign, Wiehl said he is confident with its progression.
“It’s pretty low-key, but it’s going well. I think I’ve been doing well for the city,” Wiehl said. “We don’t have polling systems here, but most of the time I knock on people’s doors I get a positive reaction.”
Morris added he thinks people believe he has the experience needed to be mayor.
“I think it’s going well,” Morris said concerning the state of his campaign. “A lot of folks have gone to my website and seen what I stand for.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
