Tune In for County Executive Debate

By Holly Crocco

The Putnam County Press/Times will host a debate featuring the three candidates running for Putnam County executive Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m., at a local library.

The event will be livestreamed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/putnampress and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/putnampresstimes.

You do not need a social media account to watch. Simply open any web browser and go directly to either profile (we recommend the Facebook link for the smoothest experience for non-account holders).

Public comments on social media will be open during the live broadcast. To maintain a respectful, constructive civic forum, our moderation team will remove comments containing harassment, bullying, or abusive language. 

A complete, unedited recording/playback of the debate will be published immediately following the event and will remain available for viewing indefinitely on both platforms.

If you do not have internet capabilities at home, head over to your local library to access a computer and the internet for free.

There will not be a live audience at this event.

This decision was made for a number of reasons. The library is allowing us free use of their venue, which holds a limited number of people. Considering the three candidates and their support teams (family, campaign members, etc.), the moderator, timekeeper, the newspaper editor, social media manager who will be filming the debate, and any other stragglers, it doesn’t leave much room for the public.

To hold some sort of lottery or limited registration seemed exclusive, which is something this newspaper wanted to avoid.

We understand the disappointment from residents who wish to attend the debate, and will consider a live audience for future debates.  

The timing for the debate is due to availability. With the library graciously lending us a venue, we need to be packed up and out of there by 30 minutes before closing time. We understand many residents are commuting during the 5 o’clock hour, and that’s why a recording of the debate in its entirety will be posted to our Facebook and Instagram pages immediately after the event.

Other times and days were considered, but between fall sports on the weekends, religious studies, traditional and non-traditional work days, bedtimes, weekday sports practices … it’s hard to nail down a time that works for all.

The League of Women Voters of Westchester County has provided much support to the Press/Times in organizing the debate, and will be providing an impartial moderator from Westchester County.

We thank everyone who sent in suggested questions for our candidates, either via email or on social media. Questions that are relevant to Putnam County residents, apply to all candidates, and are not of a personal nature are being assembled and vetted with help from the LWV.

We look forward to a fair, informative, and spirited debate among the candidates.

There will be no winners – other than the viewers who will hopefully gain a closer look at who may best represent what’s most important to them.