Jackson, Miss. – Four veteran Mississippi journalists will serve as moderator and panelists for “Decision 2018: Mississippi U.S. Senate Debate.”
Wilson Stribling, host of @ISSUE on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and news anchor/reporter of WLBT-TV in Jackson, will serve as moderator for the debate. The panel of journalists presenting questions to the candidates include Emily Wagster Pettus, political reporter with the Associated Press; R.L. Nave, editor-in-chief of Mississippi Today; and Desare Frazier, reporter with Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
The debate will feature candidates Mike Espy, former Congressman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; State Senator Chris McDaniel; and Tobey Bartee, former U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has an open invitation to join the debate but has cited scheduling issues with the Senate calendar as a likely obstacle to her participation.
Millsaps College and Mississippi Public Broadcasting are partnering to present the debate in the special election to fill the unexpired term of former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.
“Decision 2018: Mississippi U.S. Senate Debate” will take place on Thursday, October 4 at 7 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Gertrude C. Ford Academic Complex on the Millsaps campus and will be broadcast live on Mississippi Public Broadcasting Television, MPB Think Radio and online via MPB’s YouTube channel here.
The debate is open to the public, and there is no admission fee. Seating is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors of the Recital Hall will open at 6:15 p.m.
###
Millsaps College,located in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, is a top-ranked college affiliated with The United Methodist Church. It offers the rare combination of a nationally accredited business school paired with a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college.
Mississippi Public Broadcasting provides relevant instructional and public affairs programming to Mississippians through its statewide television and radio network. MPB enhances the work of educators, students, parents and learners of all ages by providing informative programming and educational resources. MPB’s locally-produced programming focuses on the people, resources and attractions that reflect Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Children’s television programs constitute a major portion of the daytime and weekend morning schedules. MPB provides a valuable resource to Mississippians in disseminating information as part of the state’s emergency preparedness and response system. Since 1970, MPB has won over 350 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards.
