The Democratic and Republican candidates facing off in the November election for Summit County executive will participate in a debate to be presented by the Akron Press Club on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, at the University of Akron’s Quaker Station.
The debate is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area and the University of Akron’s Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics.
The two candidates – Republican Bill Roemer and Democrat Ilene Shapiro – have agreed to the debate format.
Each candidate will have 90 seconds to answer questions posed by a panel of journalists selected by the Akron Press Club. The other candidates will have 45 seconds each for rebuttal. The order of the questions will be determined by a coin toss. Each candidate will be asked the same number of questions.
Roemer, 58, of Richfield is a retired Ameritech sales director and certified public accountant. He also has served a four-year term on the County Council.
Shapiro, 69, of Akron was appointed to fill the term of County Executive Russ Pry, who passed away in July. She was County Council president and is the first female county executive in the county’s history. Before entering politics, Shapiro held positions with FirstMerit Corp. and the Summa Foundation.
No campaigning will be allowed in the debate room, including but not limited to buttons, stickers, T-shirts or other printed material. The Press Club reserves the right to refuse anyone displaying such material admission to the debate room.
Details:
Program: Summit County executive debate.
Time: Doors open at 11 a.m., Wednesday, October 19. The program will begin at 11:55 a.m.
Place: Quaker Station, 135 South Broadway (free parking behind the building).
Cost: $20 for Press Club members, $25 for non-members.
$25 for all reservations made after Friday, October 14 (members and non-members).
Reservations requested: Click here for fast and easy online registration or contact Lianne Fowler, Press Club administrator, at 330-552-8860 or akronpressclub@gmail.com. Cash or check only accepted day of luncheon.
Reservation deadline: Noon, Friday, October 14.
Cancellations: Cancellation requests must be received no later than 48 hours before the event. After that time, there will be no refunds and an invoice will be issued for payment.
The Akron Press Club was founded in 1971 to promote a free press and serve local journalists and public relations professionals. The group has a rich heritage of offering newsmakers a forum to discuss issues of the day at Press Club luncheons and speaking events that are open to the public. The club also funds scholarships for journalists and public relations students and sponsors annual fundraising and community outreach events.
