Winter Park candidates to discuss issues at four forums

Winter Park residents can get their first look at the four City Commission candidates at four upcoming candidate forums over the next two weeks.

The March 15 election day approaches as City Commissioner Carolyn Cooper will be looking to retain her post at Seat 3 against challenger Lambrine Macejewski, while Commissioner Tom McMacken hopes to defend his Seat 4 against challenger Peter Weldon.

All four candidates have committed to participating in all four events.

The first candidate forum takes place at Rollins College at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the SunTrust Auditorium at Rollins’ Crummer Hall. The Rollins Democracy Project and Rollins College radio station WPRK have put together a forum that will not only focus on the broad issues facing Winter Park, but how the candidates see the relationship between Rollins and the city progressing in the future.

There’s seating for roughly 65 residents at the forum, which will be moderated by former Florida Rep. Dick Batchelor.

“I think opportunities like this are important for our campus community and also our larger community,” said Marissa Corrente, associate director of the Rollins College Center for Leadership and Community Engagement. “Part of Rollins’ mission is global citizenship and responsible leadership. I see these forums as opportunities to not only learn more about candidates, but to take part in the democratic process. That’s an integral part of our college’s mission.”

A forum hosted by the Winter Park Voice takes place the following day on Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Community Center, with space for an audience of roughly 200.

Voice editor Anne Mooney said that moderator Michele Levy of the League of Women Voters of Orange County won’t shy away from bringing up the more controversial topics present within the city, including historic preservation and a new library that depends on a referendum passing on the ballot this March.

“Our purpose is to make sure there is as much information out there in the community as we can humanly give them,” Mooney said. “This forum is part of that process. They can see the candidates, see how they comport themselves and behave toward one another, and what they have to say on the issues.”

Residents looking for an early morning forum can head to the Winter Park Welcome Center from 7:45 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, for an event hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber President Patrick Chapin said the forum will focus primarily on issues that affect the business community, including the future of the Progress Point property and whether the recently overhauled historic preservation ordinance will eventually extend to commercial properties.

The forum will also not only delve into each candidate’s stance on several hot-button topics, Chapin said, but their leadership style and background.

“We’re going to dig a little deeper into what makes these people tick, why they think they can continue to serve or be able to serve better than a current commissioner,” he said.

Chapin added that there will be room for a little more than 100 people at the event.

Residents who are out of town or unable to attend a forum next week can mark their calendars for Friday, Feb. 19, for an event at the Winter Park Public Library moderated by Karen Climer of the League of Women Voters of Orange County.

Library Director of Community Relations Mary Gail Coffee said the event will much more resemble a debate as opposed to a forum, encouraging a civil, back-and-forth discussion. There’s room for 80 to 100 residents, she said.

“We really like to afford the candidates opportunities to respectfully exchange ideas,” Coffee said.

“We are a library and libraries are in the information business. This is just one more medium through which we allow our residents to access the information they need to make good decisions.”