Bebe Heiskell and Paul Shaw
Candidate Paul Shaw, on Tuesday night, July 17, reads aloud a certified letter he said he sent to Walker County commissioner Bebe Heiskell challenging her to a debate. (Messenger photo/Denise Etheridge)
Leatha McKin offers the crowd an update on the Tri-State Crematory memorial during a gathering Tuesday night, July 17, for Paul Shaw, who is running for Walker County commissioner. (Messenger photo/Denise Etheridge)
Walker County commissioner Bebe Heiskell said she turned down election opponent Paul Shaw’s request for a debate because she had a prior commitment, received no formal invite, and wasn’t allowed to help decide how the debate would operate.
Shaw, speaking by phone on Tuesday, July 17, about an hour before the debate, insisted that Heiskell should have received a certified letter, which he said he sent on July 10.
“That would have given her three days to get back to me,” he said.
Shaw said he sent the letter to Heiskell’s campaign post office box, P.O. Box 221 in Chickamauga.
Despite Heiskell’s absense, Shaw said he would go forward with the debate. “We are going to have the presentation tonight,” he said. “I would’ve thought she would want to be there and be in front of her constituents and give her case for reelection.”
The debate turned out to be a one-man show at the Walker County Civic Center on U.S. 27 in Rock Spring, with Shaw answering questions from the audience.
Heiskell detailed her reasons for not debating Shaw.
“Over a month ago, I had promised the Chattanooga Valley Lions Club that I would speak with them,” Heiskell said Monday, July 16. “And I had tried to make it on July 3, but someone else was speaking so they gave me the date of the 17, which is the only time I could get. And so I told them I would be there. I am their speaker for tomorrow night. I felt like it would be better for me to keep my word and honor the prior commitment than to go to a debate that I had absolutely no input in.”
Heiskell said she never received a formal invitation to the debate — though Shaw announced on television that he had sent one.
Also, since she was given no role in orchestrating the debate, she felt that it might have been unevenly biased had she chosen to participate, she said.
“I read it (Shaw’s announcement about the debate) in the paper and I saw it on television,” Heiskell said. “He said he sent me a certified letter but I haven’t gotten it. And he said in the paper, I believe, that the moderator would be mutually agreed-upon, and I don’t even know yet who that moderator was proposed to be, so I really didn’t have enough information to make any decisions on it. And I don’t know why I haven’t gotten the notification to pick it up. I have to have a slip of paper.
“I was given the date, the time, the place and the conditions. And also, I believe it said that you had to have reservations to get there, which might screen who comes. So I decided not to do the debate. And I’m going to be, I’m extremely busy for the next two weeks, so I don’t think I’ll be available to debate Paul Shaw before the 31st.”
The Republican primary election will be July 31. There are no Democratic challengers.
“We’ve had three forums where we’ve each presented our point of view, and I think it’s enough. I wouldn’t be surprised if people hadn’t already made up their minds who they’re going to vote for anyway,” she said.
http://rockcreeklandownersprotectionalliance.org/
Windcrest Viewpoint = no class, no moral and no truth.
The key part is "the best way to recoup our money".
Thank God leaders did not have that attitude with Yellowstone and the Great Smokey Mnts. He insults our intellingence. Recouping money entails development. His earlier statement of a thousand homes was on the mark and now is part of a secret agenda.
Windcrest Viewpoint
You have done nothing but told lies on your so call "viewpoint" page. You delete and real viewpoint from others that you disagree with. If the incumbent is anything like your "Viewpoint" page ... she really needs to be out of office ASAP. Take back Walker County and the LU leaves commits from all on their pages. Good or bad.
Windcrest Viewpoint page has no class, no moral and no truth. If you had a phone, you would most likely hang up on a caller trying to get answer to a question.
The real Windcrest Viewpoint ... the only real point are ours, no matter how long it take us to rewords and mislead your quotes.
That is real progress
http://www.facebook.com/WindcrestViewpoint
This is Shaw's official stance on MCF, directly quoted from him a few days ago. There's a false rumor going around that he wants to sell it and develop 1000 new homes. In this economy, that's impossible. "I will evaluate its usage, how much we’ve invested into the project, and the best way to recoup our money. We may need to find a buyer who wishes to maintain the property and not divide it into building sites or large scale development. I want the input from current residents of the Cove to assist in determining its future."
Input in decision-making is the key statement. You will not get that from the incumbent.
I have met him, yes. What lies has he told? What proof do you have that he was a bad doctor? Just rambling off random opinions without information to back things up, doesn't make you very creditable.
Walker County has rules and laws that the cities inside it must follow, but the cities' rules don't impact the county outside the city. That's why LaFayette or Chickamauga residents vote for their own mayor and council, plus also have a say in the county government (theoretically anyway..) because the county has power over them. Same way Walker County residents still get to vote for governor and president even though they already have their own elected leaders.
Maybe you need to go back and finish middle school.
Vote the way you want to. This is America, and we all have that freedom.
The invitation was sent via USPS registered mail dated July 9 2012 # 7010 1870 0002 8071 4455 addressed to Commissioner Bebe Heiskell, PO Box 221,
Chickamauga, GA 30707.
July 9, 2012
Commissioner Bebe Heiskell
PO Box 221
Chickamauga, GA, 30707
Dear Commissioner Heiskell,
Your are cordially invited to participate in a one on one debate with myself Dr. G. Paul Shaw, on July 17th, 2012 at 7:00 P.M., to discuss topics of interest to the citizens of Walker County, due to the dozens of issues facing voters in the up coming July 31st Primary for solo commissioner, I ask you to participate in this debate before the citizens of Walker County.
This debate to be held at the Walker County Civic Center on Tuesday, July 17th at 7 P.M. With a mutually agreed upon moderator.
Appropriate questions from the audience will be addressed, with a 3 minute response from each participant.
NO NOTES, NO PREPARED SPEECHES, NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES ALLOWED!
This will be a COLD DEBATE!
Your participation respectfully requested.
Please respond no later than 12 noon Friday 13, 2012, in writing if you wish to participate to “Take Back Walker County” P.O. Box 1944, La Fayette, GA 30728
Sincerely,
Dr. G. Paul Shaw
Candidate for Walker County Commissioner.
I believe this will show my good intentions. She first stated she was going to the Republican Party
meeting with Jeff Mullis in support of the TSPLOST
bill that is to be voted on, she has now changed her story to excuse her absence. It is regrettable that she couldn't stand before her fellow citizens and explain her position on important issues facing Walker County.
I never received any invitation to communicate with Catwalkchatt. I most certainly would have responded.
Yours truly,
G. Paul Shaw,Jr.
Walker County needs new leaderships for the future ... and the time is now. That's is why our whole family going to Vote for Paul.
If you think everyone is decided, sounds like you have given up.
I know I have. I voted for Dr. Shaw today.
I would like to encourage everyone else to do likewise.