Op-Ed: The Tribune 2025 Debate Series continues

2025 Special Election – House of Representatives District 11

• General – Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025

2025 Special Election – House of Representatives District 12

• Primary – Tuesday, July 15, 2025
• Run-Off – Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2025
• General – Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025

2025 Municipal Elections

• Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025

The Tribune 2025 Debate Series continues…

Following the first debate series, which turned into a question-and-answer session, for Alabama House District 11, The Tribune is releasing the following information for voters and candidates before the next series of debates. 

We work with candidates, but if they do not reply to emails or calls, there’s nothing much we can do to accommodate that candidate or candidates. 

The General Election set for Alabama House District 11 is set for Tuesday, Aug. 26. The Tribune will host a follow-up debate for that election on Saturday, Aug. 24.   

This series has been a way for candidates to come in and speak to the people. All candidates are told explicitly when invited that if they do not show up, they forfeit their time to the other candidate. 

Rules sent to all candidates say, “If one candidate agrees to participate but the other candidate does not, then the candidate participating will have more of an open question and answer session, so we implore that both attend.”

An empty chair or chairs will sit beside those who decided to appear.

The Cullman Tribune will continue its debate series with the 2025 Special Election – House of Representatives District 12. The Primary Election will be held Tuesday, July 15.

The first debate for HD 12 is scheduled for Saturday, July 12. All candidates invited and encouraged to attend. The Run-Off Election will be held Tuesday, Aug. 22 and The Tribune will hold a debate on Saturday, Aug. 19.

Before the vote of HD 12, Municipal Elections first take place and the face-off in HD 11 on Aug. 26 in the General Election. The Tribune will host these elections between Aug. 16-Aug. 23.

Once HD 12 is settled then the General Election is set for Tuesday, Oct. 28. The Tribune will host a series of debates Oct. 18-25.

The rules for all debates are as follows:

1. No friends, family or political advisers allowed inside during the debate.
2. No electronic devices are allowed during the debate.
3. The questions will alternate so no one candidate will be answering first each time.
4. Each candidate will have an opening statement limited to 60 seconds. This can be a prepared statement, but this is the only allowed prepared statement or notes of any kind. People want to hear from you, not talking points.
5. Each candidate will have a 90 second closing statement, but this cannot be written down and read.
6. We will alternate questions so no one candidate is forced to answer every question first or last.
7. Each candidate will have one rebuttal per question and the time is limited to 45 seconds.
8. Come with facts and not accusations. If you can’t prove it, then leave it at the door.

The Tribune welcomes all candidates and looks forward to giving each his or her time to speak to voters.

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