BELLEAIR BEACH - In addition to addressing voters in city hall on March 8 at 6:30 p.m., city hopefuls running for office will have an additional opportunity to reach them when the taped event runs on Belleair Beach's TV (BBTV) cable channel 15.
The League of Women Voters will sponsor the candidate's night, which will be similar to last year's with a Socratic dialog format. Questions derived from the public will be given to a moderator who will quiz the candidates.
According to Reid Silverboard, Belleair Beach city manager, further details of the candidates night would be forthcoming. He said the taping will be broadcast several times before the election.
Mayor Rudy Davis suggested televising the forum at a city council meeting earlier this month, but the majority of the council was against the idea at that time.
At a special meeting on February 15, the council received a request by councilmember Lynn Rives to reconsider the action and air the candidates question and answer session on channel 15 before the March 14 election.
Davis said that BBTV is the property of the residents of the city and added that because the city's population can't fit into city hall, the broadcastings will be an informative venue.
The city hall capacity is 126. Belleair Beach scheduled city council meetings and city information concerning events can be viewed regularly on Channel 15.
Councilmembers Marvin Behm, Donna Durante and Ken Lucci voted against televising the event at the most recent meeting. Durante said she felt cable broadcasts would be unfair because not all Belleair Beach voters have cable service.
To remedy this, copies of the taping will be made available to Belleair Beach residents.
Councilmembers who were in favor of airing the taping thought it would be a beneficial way to supply information to voters.
Councilmember Jeff Coulson asked, "I don't understand how disseminating information to the public is unfair. Any information as long as it is given freely and not manipulated is good."
Of Belleair Beach's six candidates running for election three are seeking re-election. They are Durante, Coulson and Marvin Behm. Newcomers to the race are Mary Schoonover, Richard Crowl, a retired lawyer, and former mayor Mike Kelly.