ISSUED: 1 June 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s Bill and Bonnie Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communication is partnering with West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) to present “The Future of the West Virginia Supreme Court: An Evening with the Candidates.”
The event will be broadcast on Thursday, June 4, starting at 6 p.m. on the WVPB network and livestreamed on the WVPB website. Dave Mistich, senior reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and David Welch, director of the Stubblefield Institute, are the co-moderators. The forum will be televised on Channel 25 (Comcast), Channel 24.1 (antenna), and live streamed on WVPB’s website (wvpublic.org). It will also air at 11 a.m. Friday, June 5, on The West Virginia Channel. Voters who miss those broadcasts will be able to view it at wvpublic.org. Nine of the 10 supreme court candidates are featured from either their home or office. The two moderators are in their respective studios in Morgantown and Shepherdstown.
“Shepherd University is extremely proud to have the Stubblefield Institute on our campus,” said Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, Shepherd president. “The Institute promotes the essence of civility during a time when respectful communications are critical to our sustainability as a humanitarian nation and a civilization. I hope the Institute will also consider hosting a gubernatorial debate when the time is right.”
Candidates for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals are Tim Armstead, Elkview, David Hummell, Jr., Moundsville, and Richard Neely, Charleston, in Division 1; Jim Douglas, Charleston, Kristinia “Kris” Raynes, Eleanor, Joanna I. Tabit, Charleston, and William R. “Bill” Wooton, Beckley, in Division 2; and Lora A. Dyer, Ripley, John A. Hutchison, Beckley, and Bill Schwartz, Charleston, in Division 3.
“The importance of this forum cannot be underestimated,” Welch said. “Three of the five seats on our highest court could change hands. And remember, this is a winner-take-all election. There is not a general election for Supreme Court.”
The Bonnie and Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications officially opened its doors on July 1, 2019. The Institute’s mission is to offer students and the public an inspired platform for constructive debate and more positive political discourse. Learn more at www.Stubblefieldinstitute.org.
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