Candidates Answer Resident Questions at Chamber Forum

Federal, state and municipal candidates hoping to garner votes in the Nov. 6 election came to First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace Oct. 4 for a Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum.

Candidates answered Temple Terrace resident and moderator questions regarding everything from budgets and Medicare to downtown redevelopment and Temple Terrace schools.

More than 100 people attended the forum, which was sponsored by Sherwood Forest of Temple Terrace, Mark Master, and the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County.

Greg Vawter, of the League of Women Voters, served as the moderator.

The GFWC Temple Terrace Woman's Club and Junior Woman's Club provided refreshments.

Click the links below to see videos of each of the candidates who attended.

Evelio "E.J." Otero, Candidate for U.S. Representative, District 14
Otero answered questions about: what makes him better than his opponent, Kathy Castor, who was not present; federal spending; taxpayer theft; and Medicare.

Kevin Beckner, Candidate for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
Beckner answered questions about: the Hillsborough County budget; his accomplishments; what he would like to change; and what makes him better than his opponent, Margaret Iuculano, who was not present.

Dan Raulerson and Jose Vazquez, Candidates for Florida House, District 58
Raulerson and Vazquez answered questions about: the state budget, how they decided to run for office and what they hope to achieve; and their position on the 11 amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Elizabeth Belcher, Candidate for Florida Senate, District 24
Belcher answered questions about: tax exemptions and how to increase revenue; the 11 amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot; and what makes her better than her opponent, Tom Lee, who was not present.

Terry Kemple and Carol Kurdell, Candidates for Hillsborough School Board, District 7
Kemple and Kurdell answered questions about: what the school board's fiscal priorities should be; who should be allowed to visit classrooms and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) speaking to students; student performance; and whether parents or school administrators know what is best for students in the classroom.

Mary Jane Neale, Grant Rimbey and Eddie Vance, Candidates for Temple Terrace City Council Part 1
Neale, Rimbey and Vance answered questions about: renters and the downtown redevelopment project.

Mary Jane Neale, Grant Rimbey and Eddie Vance, Candidates for Temple Terrace City Council Part 2
Neale, Rimbey and Vance answered questions about: the downtown redevelopment project; red light cameras; the city's budget; how much of their campaign spending was done in Temple Terrace; and their priorities if elected.

Frank Chillura and Cheri Donohue, Candidates for Temple Terrace Mayor
Chillura and Donohue answered questions about: the downtown redevelopment project; how to bring people and business to Temple Terrace; and what differences they have.

See also:
Temple Terrace Election Guide 2012


UPDATE: Meet Local Candidates at 3 Upcoming Forums