News

League hosting candidate forum tonight

By Bill Moss, Published: October 1, 2014

The League of Women Voters of Henderson County is hosting candidate forums from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1 and 8.

Republican, Libertarian and Democratic candidates for the state Senate District 48 and N.C. House of Representatives Districts 113 and 117 have been invited to participate.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, candidates for Sheriff of Henderson County and the School Board of Henderson County Public Schools have been invited.
The forums will be held at the City Operations Building on Williams Street.
Rick Wood, the Democratic nominee for the 48th Senate District seat, said he hoped to meet his opponent, six-term incumbent Tom Apodaca, in more debates. Apodaca said he turned down the League event because he had a conflict.

Under League rules, Wood does not get the platform to himself even if Apodaca is absent. League officials have told him he would get an opportunity to make a four-minute closing statement.
Apodaca "said he's only agreeing to do two things of his choosing that he's comfortable with doing — a WHKP open forum and an independent business leaders forum in Asheville," Wood said. No other forum has been scheduled "that involves me or gives me a chance to question him or for us to answer questions together or any kind of debate type thing," Wood added. "I'm disappointed. I don't think it serves the voters well at all."
Apodaca said he explained to the League that he had a conflict.
"It was supposed to be next week, and I was going to be in Raleigh," he said. "I've got five committee meetings in Raleigh and I told them that when they sent it to me."
Is he dodging Wood?
"Oh, good Lord, no," he said. "We've consented to two."
Apodaca and Wood will appear at forums held by the Council of Independent Business Owners in Asheville and the WHKP call-in program.
Apodaca said he likes appearing on a radio broadcast because the candidates' comments are carried unfiltered to listeners. "I think it will get out to more people," Apodaca said. "I think that's the best way."