Tusculum College student debate to feature representatives from Haslam, McWherter campaigns

The Andrew Johnson Society of Tusculum College will be hosting a public debate on at the Greeneville campus on Thursday, October 28, from 7-9 p.m. Also participating will be the College Democrat organization.

The event will be held in the Chalmers Conference Center in the Niswonger Commons and is free of charge and open to the public.

The beginning program will be a mock debate between members of the two student organizations. The mock debate will be followed by representatives for candidates for governor and regional and local who will each be given the opportunity to address the attendees.

The group is expecting representatives from the two Tennessee gubernatorial campaigns of Mr. Bill Haslam and Mr. Mike McWherter.

Haslam is in his seventh year as mayor of Knoxville and prior to that helped to lead his family business, Pilot Travel Centers, for 18 years. He is the Republican nominee.

McWherter, the Democratic Party nominee, has been a successful businessman and has owned and operated a successful beverage distributorship in Jackson, Tenn. McWherter has never held prior public office.

“We want to provide an event that will inform the community of the candidates’ stand on the issues so that they can be better informed when they go to vote,” said Isiah Lyman, President of the Andrew Johnson Society.

The students will also hold voter registration opportunities on campus between now and the election.

For more information on the event, contact Dr. Joel Van Amberg, assistant professor of history and advisor to the Andrew Johnson Society, at 423-633-7300.