Gualtieri, Rice Debate for Critical Primary Win
Interim Sheriff Bob Gualtieri will face former sheriff Everett Rice in a fight for a critical spot on the Aug. 14 Republican Primary ballot during a debate set for Tuesday, July 17.
The National Armed Services & Law Enforcement Memorial Museum sheriff debate will help determine which of the two Republican front-runner candidates will prevail in the county’s most hotly contested and contentious year-long campaign.
Patch.com and Bay News 9 have joined to offer full county-wide coverage of the debate. Patch's online live-streaming coverage will also air on Bay News 9's On Demand Channel 342.
Challenging Gualtieri and Rice is Democrat Scott Swope and write-in candidate Greg Pound. The four candidates will answer tough questions about personal qualifications, budget management, community policing and key campaign issues from moderator Al Ruechel, Bay News 9 senior anchor.
Organizer and event chairman Harvey A. Smith predicts a sellout crowd in the 300-seat Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater's Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, 7 to 9 p.m.
The debate is free and open to the public, but Smith advises arriving early for best seating.
Contact: Harvey Alexander Smith, debate chair, at hsmithconsulsv@aol.com or 727-460-3937.
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