In one of the most bizarre episodes so far in the Lt. Governor’s campaign, apparently Jamie Franks has lost his Day Planner calendar. It’s the only plausible conclusion given the fact that Franks is claiming Phil Bryant will not debate him when the candidates have now had eight debates this year.
And in what has to be the strangest event of the campaign to date, Franks sent out a press release on October 10 saying Phil Bryant is “trying to duck even one debate where we can meet face to face and discuss the issues man to man.” Here’s what makes that statement so odd: On that same evening of October 10, just a few hours after Franks sent out that press release, Jamie Franks and Phil Bryant had a debate hosted by the Coast Young Professional group at the historic Saenger Theater in Biloxi. This debate had planned for several weeks and it was the eighth debate between the candidates, with an additional debate planned next week in Corinth.
The debate on October 10 was attended by people on the Coast and was widely covered by the local media with WLOX-TV’s headline story of “Lt. Gov. & Transportation Commissioner Candidates Debate In Biloxi,” and The Mississippi Press newspaper stating, “Coast Young Professionals held the debate to better acquaint the public about the races for lieutenant governor and Southern District Transportation Commissioner… “.
While you may not have known that Phil Bryant and Jamie Franks have debated eight times by reading Franks’ childish rant in the Clarion-Ledger’s Political Notebook this past Sunday, October 14, here is the list of debates between the two candidates-so now you know the facts:
Previous debates between Phil Bryant and Jamie Franks:
June 13: Biloxi, Mississippi Department of Education debate
June 19: Gulfport, Gulfport/Biloxi Business Club forum
June 23: Biloxi, Mississippi Press Association debate
June 29: Columbus, Town and Tower Club meeting, Cochran Hall on the campus of the Mississippi University for Women
July 18: Biloxi, Mississippi Association of School Superintendents and Alliance of Educational Leaders of Mississippi Convention
July 28: DeSoto County, DeSoto Times “A Talk With the Candidates” event, a televised on cable throughout DeSoto County.
September 10: Tupelo, Cellular South’s Networking at Noon event
October 10: Biloxi, Coast Young Professionals, Saenger Theater
Upcoming: October 24: Corinth, Cellular South’s Neworking at Noon event, Hillindale Country Club
It is also interesting to note that Phil Bryant has accepted two debates that Jamie Franks has yet to accept including an October 4 debate invitation from the Associated Builders and Contractors in Jackson and an October 5 debate invitation from the Matt Friedeman radio show debate broadcast on American Family Radio.
Phil Bryant Campaign Release
10/16/7
Magnolia Tribune
