Times Free Press to host gubernatorial forum at UTC

Candidates seeking to be the next governor of Tennessee will discuss key issues for the state at a forum hosted by the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

The Times Free Press Gubernatorial Forum will take place June 25 from 6-8 p.m. in the University Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The event is free of charge, but requires registration because seating is limited.

Following a 90-minute forum discussion moderated by Business Editor

Dave Flessner and Government Reporter

Judy Walton, there will be a

30-minute meet and greet with the candidates.

Participating candidates include Republicans Randy

Boyd, former

Tennessee Economic and Community Development commissioner, and businessman Bill Lee and Democrats Karl Dean, former mayor of Nashville, and state Rep. Craig Fitzhugh. Republican Beth Harwell, speaker of the Tennessee

House, will not attend. U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., is invited but has not responded.

Early voting begins July 13 for the primary election, which will be held on Aug. 2.

“We are happy to give Southeast Tennessee residents an opportunity to hear from and meet the leading candidates for governor,” said Jeff DeLoach, president of the Times Free Press. “I’m very proud of our team at the Times Free Press for bringing this forum to our region of the state.”

People will be able to suggest questions in advance of the forum by emailing news@timesfreepress.com or posting them on Twitter with the hashtag #TFPforum or on the newspaper’s Facebook page.

Free parking is available in the Fifth Street garage.