Two Democrats vying for their party's nomination to run against 1st District U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield in November face off in a live forum on KET Monday night.
Wesley Bolin, a 25-year-old Murray State University student and employee, and perennial candidate Charles Hatchett of Benton are seeking the nomination.
Bolin said he will highlight the need to raise the minimum wage and the importance of rural broadband internet access.
“Also, I want to convey that there’s an alternative – a different alternative since that’s what a 25-year-old running for Congress offers,” Bolin said. “Not only just to Ed Whitfield, who has been in Congress for 20 years now, but also to my primary opponent, Charles Hatchett.”
Should Hatchett receive his party’s nomination, it would be the third election cycle in a row he’s gone head-to-head with Whitfield. He said that political seasoning would give him the edge against the 10-term incumbent.
“Right now, you know, I think I have more experience because of running those times and I think I’ve got more people who I’ve heard their voice,” Hatchett said.
One of Hatchett’s main goals for the first district would be establishing a seven-person congressional advisory council, "like a small city mayor has a city council."
Primary polls open Tuesday, May 20. The forum will get underway on KET at 7 p.m. Monday night and will re-air at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on WKMS.
