WRBL and Columbus State University are reversing course on their debate criteria for mayoral candidates. A candidate will no longer be excluded from their upcoming debate based on the amount of campaign donations raised according to a statement from CSU spokesperson Michael Tullier.
“Earlier today, SGA President Undrell Walker updated all candidates that, after conferring with debate media partner WRBL News 3, the fundraising guidelines for debate participation had been lifted and again invited them to participate.”
As reported earlier, an invitation to participate in the upcoming televised mayoral debate was met with immediate backlash from the candidates. The debate is being hosted by Columbus State University’s Student Government Association and WRBL the local CBS affiliate. The invitation was emailed to mayoral candidates by the SGA and included an attachment of criteria that must be met by each candidate in order to participate.
Now Georgia obtained the original email invitation to the mayoral debate and the criteria attached was crafted by Nexstar Media, the company that owns WRBL. Part of the criteria required the candidates to have raised a certain amount of money and reads in part “For non-statewide or local offices, a candidate must have reported, on official forms filed with the appropriate election authority, having accepted at least $25,000 in campaign contributions.”
That $25,000 donation threshold made three of the five candidates who have filed a Declaration of Intent to run for mayor ineligible to participate. Mark LaJoye is one candidate who would be excluded from the debate based off campaign donations. LaJoye immediately responded to the invitation saying “This action is completely discriminatory and voter suppression. I will file through the University President an appeal in reference to this discriminatory action. Legal action will be forth coming.”
City councilor and mayoral candidate Joanne Cogle did meet the financial criteria but took to social media to publicly share her response to the invitation to participate. Cogle wrote “I am struggling with the idea that any candidate who qualifies to run for local elected office would be excluded from a public and televised debate due to a minimum monetary requirement. Our citizens deserve to hear from all of the candidates who have qualified, and candidates deserve the same opportunity to address our citizens, regardless of how much they have raised.”
Cogle initially said she will participate in the televised debate if that provision was removed but has since changed her stance saying she will only participate if all the candidates are invited to attend.
Reached by telephone this weekend Eric Ludgood, WRBL’s news director said the company would issue a statement on Monday regarding the debate criteria.
