Monday, April 24, 2006

Wilmington, NC - The Learning Network will rebroadcast the UNCW-TV production of the April 19 candidates forum featuring House District 18 and New Hanover County Commission primary candidates seven times between Tuesday, April 25 and Monday, May 1.

The dates and times of the broadcasts are 3 p.m., Tuesday, April 25; noon, Wednesday, April 26; 8 a.m., Thursday, April 27; 11 a.m., Friday, April 28; 6 p.m., Saturday, April 29; 11 a.m., Sunday, April 30; and 11 a.m., Monday, May 1. The forum will air on the Learning Network by UNCW-TV on Time Warner Cable Channel 5 and Charter Cable 12.

The forum was sponsored by the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) in conjunction with WAAV radio, Star-News, and UNCW in preparation for the May 2 primary election. The forum featured the two Democratic candidates for the North Carolina House of Representatives 18th District (Thomas Wright and Laura Padgett) and four of the five Republicans running for two New Hanover County commission seats (Bill Caster, Robert G. "Bobby" Greer, Dana Eugene Page, and Leroy Sullivan. Candidate Susan E. Clarke declined the invitation to attend.).

The forum utilized a panel format featuring the following panelists: Dr. Stephen Meinhold, associate professor of political science, UNCW; Rhonda Bellamy, WAAV News director; Jon Evans, news anchor and managing editor of News Channel 3 - WWAY-TV; Mark Schreiner, Raleigh Bureau Chief, for 18th District candidates, and John DeSantis, New Hanover County reporter, for commissioners, Star-News; and Jim Hanchett, co-anchor, WECT-TV6.

Donn Ansell, prominent talk show host for WAAV, was moderator. Welcoming and introductory remarks were made by UNCW Provost Paul Hosier.

The Council of Neighborhood Associations, Inc. is a non-profit, grassroots coalition of neighborhoods dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life in New Hanover County through citizen involvement and participation in local government. CONA is comprised of homeowner and neighborhood associations and affiliated civic organizations and community activists.

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