The Atlanta Press Club is about to stage its biggest debate year ever. From April 26 to 28, the 30-year-old Loudermilk-Young debate series will bring nearly 85 candidates to the stage for 18 different primary election debates.
"We're like a little factory over three days," Atlanta Press Club past president and debate logistics coordinator Lauri Strauss said. Each of the 18 debates will air in short segments on Georgia Public Broadcasting or YouTube, where they stay available on demand.
The format stays fast: local journalists act as panelists, each candidate has 60 seconds to answer, and 30 seconds for rebuttal. "We really try to make the debates what is most informative for voters," Strauss said. This year's lineup pulls in candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Secretary of State, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Public Service Commissioner, and U.S. Congressional Districts 1, 10, 11, and 13.
Grant support from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Robert Charles Loudermilk Sr. Foundation is keeping the televised series going. Early voting for the primary starts April 27, and primary day is May 19.
