The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

January 31, 2008

Democrats for Congress to debate Feb. 9 in Slippery Rock

By Matt Snyder

Interested in who the Democratic party has to challenge U.S. Rep. Phil English, Erie, for his 3rd Congressional District seat in the fall? The first nearby debate is next week.

At 2 p.m. Feb. 9 in Slippery Rock University’s Advanced Technology and Science hall’s auditorium, four Erie-based candidates will have a chance to show district voters what they’re all about.

Erie County Councilman Kyle Foust, lawyer Tom Myers, lay-minister Mike Waltner and businesswoman and arboretum director Kathy Dahlkemper will be answering to Greenville’s Mayor Dick Miller, debate moderator.

Miller said he was offered the chance to hold the candidates’ feet to the fire because he’s undecided on who he likes so far. “I think all four of them are good candidates, I really do,” he said.

The format will be a little different than most debates. Miller said candidates will get five questions in advance and probably answer four of them.

A list of questions provided to the Herald by Dr. Itzi Meztli, English professor and debate organizer, included what candidates would do about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, health care, Social Security, trade and a hypothetical question about whether they would have supported the economic stimulus package before Congress now.

“Let’s face it, if you really want them to address an issue you don’t want to surprise them,” Miller said.

He said the goal of the debate was to inform the audience. “So it’s not just a beauty contest for the candidates. It’s going to be my job to hold them to the subjects.”

The two-hour debate will be followed by an hour-long reception in the lobby outside the auditorium. Meztli said the reception will enable voters to meet the candidates and ask questions that weren’t answered during the debate.

Petitions will also be circulated for Butler County Democrats to sign, said Meztli. He wasn’t sure Thursday whether there would be petitions for registered Democrats in Mercer County, or if those would be permitted over the border in Butler County.

Parking will be free and the debate is open to the public, Meztli said.

To get to the auditorium, turn left into the university’s main entrance on Keister Road. The technology and science building is in front of the loop that the entrance merges into, Meztli said. Turn right onto the loop, park in one of the lots, and enter through the back of the building, he said.

The debate is being sponsored by the Butler County Democrats for Change and the Northwest Democratic Alliance, Meztli said.

Text Only
Local News
  • Labor Dept.: Franchise’s workers not paid properly

    The owners of the Brookfield Subway restaurant have been paying their employees less than minimum wage, shorting them on overtime pay and violating child labor laws for two years, a federal lawsuit alleges.

    February 7, 2012

  • Insecurity: Firm loses more local clients

    Reynolds Area School District is scrambling to find people to work security at upcoming games after finding out the Pittsburgh-area security firm they were using had some guards who were convicted felons or sex offenders.
    “That was a shock, believe me,” said school board President John Lowry.

    February 7, 2012

  • School budget predictions improve

    The upshot to planning for a worst-case scenario is it makes any change an improvement.
    Such is the case with Farrell Area School District’s finances, business manager William Dungee told school board members Monday.

    February 7, 2012

  • Chief gripe: Cramped quarters

    In Sharpsville, the long arm of the law needs room to stretch out.
    Police Chief Keith Falasco told council members Monday night that his department’s current space “is at the least inadequate,” and after off-and-on talks over the years to make improvements, he said the time has come.

    February 7, 2012

  • Pets perish in house fire

    A Sharon family’s home was heavily damaged in a Saturday night fire that killed their pets.

    February 6, 2012

  • Kelly rallies GOP faithful

    Mercer County Republicans agreed it was time for a change from the current administration at their annual Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night at Hempfield Station One Banquet Center, and Congressman Mike Kelly called not only for change but for more accountability.

    February 6, 2012

  • Mother leads charge for son’s autism therapy


    Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget cuts are preventing children with autism from getting the help they need.

    February 5, 2012

  • Victim describes armed robbery at her home

    Charges were held to court Friday against a Sharon teen charged as an adult in an October armed robbery.

    February 4, 2012

  • Overheated motor starts small fire at gas well

    Jamestown volunteer firefighters put out an accidental natural gas well equipment fire Friday morning in Greene Township that started when a pump motor overheated.

    February 4, 2012

  • Burglary was man’s solution to money woes

    The end of 2010 was “a crazy time in my life,” Grant T. Lockhart told a judge Thursday.

    February 4, 2012