THIS ARTICLE IS COMMENTARY AND PUBLISHED IN OUR EDITORIAL SECTION.
Two independent candidates share concerns about local courts
By Randy Arrington, publisher
LURAY, Oct. 4 — Today, Page Valley News is publishing the third of four planned “debates” among candidates in contested races in Page County on its new YouTube channel. This debate focuses on the race for Clerk of the Page County Circuit Court. Two of the four candidates — independents Kim Bailey and Stephanie Breeden — showed up for the Sept. 25 recording at Laurel Ridge Community College’s Jenkins Hall in Luray.
Republican nominee Shirron Ballard and independent incumbent Grayson Markowitz declined our invitation to participate in this debate.
“I will not be participating in the debate,” Ballard simply stated in an email.
While Markowitz stated, “Due to another commitment, I will not be able to attend this debate. Thank you for reaching out.” When the date of the debate was changed, he did not respond.
Below are direct answers to tough questions delivered by both Bailey and Breeden in-person during the recording of this debate from the conference room on the second floor of Jenkins Hall. The discussion flows from what has gone wrong in the clerk’s office to what needs to be done to fix it, and how current leadership should carry some of the blame.
Our fourth debate will focus on the race for Sheriff of Page County between the Republican incumbent Sheriff Chad Cubbage and independent challenger, Stanley Police Captain Aaron Cubbage. It will air next Wednesday, Oct. 11.
It’s up to each individual voter, as to how much weight they will place on a candidate’s decision to participate or to not participate in these debates, or the decision to participate or not in the Sept. 7 public forum held at Trackside Theater, or both…but we know a lot of people are considering these factors.
We firmly believe that candidates for public office should be subject to public questioning about their intentions, their agendas and their motivations for seeking public office.
Those who run from that opportunity, simply generate more questions than answers.
Our YouTube channel only has a few videos at this time, but we intend to grow the offerings in the near future — launching first with this four-part “debate” series covering the 2023 election in Page County.
You can reach our YouTube channel by clicking the YouTube icon in the upper right of the Home page, and then please remember to hit the “Subscribe” button on our YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@PageValleyNews
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