By Bill Byrd
FAIRMONT — Candidates for local and statewide offices in the May 13 primary will be appearing soon on public-access television — Channel 19 — of the Time Warner Cable Co., said D.D. Meighen.
“We are doing what public-access television is supposed to do, broadcasting information of important events to the viewing audience,” said Meighen, director of Marion County TV-19.
“The public is invited to attend and watch our videotaping of this forum,” he said.
“This is the first time this has been tried in Fairmont. It’s an experiment in democracy.”
The program is being sponsored by the Times West Virginian newspaper and the Time Warner cable system, he said.
Viewers will be able to see nearly 75 candidates who are on the ballot from the comfort of their living rooms in the month of April, he said. The brief profiles will air twice daily throughout the month.
“Even people who will vote in early voting will have time to view these profiles,” Meighen said.
A panel of local TV and print reporters will ask one question of each candidate.
The taping will take place on two nights this week — Tuesday and Wednesday — at the Westchester Village Restaurant & Conference Center on Locust Avenue.
Meighen has invited candidates from both parties in all the local and statewide races on the ballot to take part.
The candidates will have three minutes to make a general presentation on why they should be their party’s nominee.
A media representative on the panel will then ask them one question. The candidates will each have two minutes for their answer.
Paul Prunty, a former member of the House of Delegates, will be the moderator for interviews on Tuesday.
Bruce McDaniel, interim Fairmont City Manager, will be the moderator on Wednesday night.
“Most of the candidates will be coming,” Meighen said.
Those who cannot attend were given the option of sending a representative. A few local candidates will be unavailable because of travel or other commitments, he said.
“Gov. Joe Manchin will be traveling out-of-state, but he will send Larry Puccio, his chief of staff, to represent him,” Meighen said.
A Fairmont native, Meighen has been director of Marion County TV 19 since October 2006. He is a retired United Methodist Church minister. In college, he minored in speech and broadcasting. He also ran public-access television channels in Morgantown and Clarksburg before helping to start the Marion County channel.
“We have several volunteers who will help in running the cameras and being timekeepers,” he said.
Tuesday’s videotaping schedule is:
6 p.m.- Introduction
6:10 p.m.- U.S. House of Representatives
6:20 p.m.- State Auditor
6:30 p.m. State Treasurer
6:40 p.m.- Agriculture Commissioner
6:50 p.m.- Attorney General
7 p.m.- Supreme Court
7:20 p.m.- State Senate, 13th District
7:30 p.m.- House of Delegates, 43rd District
8 p.m.- House of Delegates, 41st District
8:30 p.m.- House of Delegates, 42nd District
8:50 p.m.- Circuit Court Judge, Division I
9 p.m.- Circuit Court Judge, Division II
9:10 p.m.- Prosecuting Attorney
9:20 p.m. - Family Court Judge
10:20 p.m.- County Surveyor
Wednesday’s schedule is:
6 p.m.- Introduction
6:10 p.m.- Governor
6:30 p.m.- Secretary of State
6:50 p.m.- School Board candidates
7:20 p.m.- County Sheriff
8:10 p.m.- County Commission
9 p.m.- County Assessor
9:30 p.m.- Magistrates
10:30 p.m.- Conservation District Supervisor
10:50 p.m.- Conclusion
E-mail Bill Byrd at bbyrd@timeswv.com.
