Loretta Spencer Declines WHNT NEWS 19′s Debate Invitation; Other Mayoral Candidates Will Participate

Municipal elections in our area are a little more than two months away. Two important offices up for grabs: Mayor of Huntsville and Mayor of Madison.

WHNT NEWS 19, along with the Huntsville Times, the Committee of 100 and Leadership Huntsville-Madison County, sent a letter out at the beginning of June inviting all qualifying candidates for mayor to debate.

The partners gave the candidates a deadline of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 19 to let organizers know their decision. All, but one candidate has agreed to debate.

Former Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer has declined our offer to debate current mayor Tommy Battle and Candidate Jackie Reed.

“I regret that I will be unable to participate in the debate proposed by WHNT NEWS 19 to take place on August 14th because of a commitment to participate in another event that has been on my calendar for a year. I appreciate the invitation from WHNT NEWS 19. I look forward to other opportunities to discuss the issues on the same platform with my opponents,” said Spencer.

WHNT News 19 also offered Spencer the alternative date of August 13th. However, Spencer tells us she has a conflict then as well. She will be participating in the Space and Missile Defense Technology Conference.

Madison Mayoral Candidates Don Palmer and Troy Trulock have also agreed to our debate. Current Madison Mayor Paul Finley is not running for re-election.

The debate will be live and take place on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHNT NEWS 19 will announce more details closer to the election date.