WTVI Helps Citizens Make Election Choices for Mayor, City Council, and Board of Education

WTVI’s studio and production crew are playing a large part in educating Mecklenburg County citizens about candidates for Mayor of Charlotte, Charlotte City Council, and the Board of Education.

By establishing partnerships with the League of Women Voters, the Council on Aging, and the Mecklenburg Citizens for Education, WTVI has produced and is airing these programs:

• WSOC-TV, WTVI, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg League of Women Voters present Vote 2009: Charlotte's Run for Mayor on Tuesday, October 27. The program, hosted by WSOC-TV anchors Erica Bryant and Blair Miller, will provide 25-minute interviews with mayoral candidates Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter. WSOC-TV, WAXN-TV 64 and wsoctv.com will simulcast the one-hour special on October 27, from 7-8 p.m. WTVI will air the program from 8-9 p.m., right after the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
  
  
• WTVI welcomed more than 50 citizens to its studio on October 22 for the Council on Aging Candidates' Forum with mayoral and Charlotte City Council candidates. Attendees asked questions on local aging issues and ensuring independence, dignity, and quality of life for older adults. This program will air on WTVI’s Public Square beginning October 27.
  
  
• WTVI hosted and filmed the League of Women Voters' Discussion Series for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education election in conjunction with the Mecklenburg Citizens for Education. See one-on-one interviews with the candidates and learn more about their priorities and plans online at: www.wtvi.org/lwvsb.cfm
  
  
• WTVI hosted and filmed the League of Women Voters’ Candidate Debates for Charlotte City Council At-Large, District 6, and District 7. View the debates online at www.wtvi.org/lwvcc.cfm

“The community needs this election information to distinguish between candidates for important local offices,” says Elsie Garner, WTVI’s President and CEO. “We are pleased to provide these resources in simple, unbiased formats, and as always, we enjoy welcoming candidates to our studio to share their views.”

In addition to the air times listed above, the interviews and debates air 24 hours a day on Public Square beginning October 31, 2009 and running until Election Day, November 3.

Visit www.wtvi.org/ for details on the programs.