Candidates, voters around the region invited to Politickin’ in the Park

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Mountain View is hosting a new political event called "Politickin' in the Park" designed to bring local candidates directly to voters in a relaxed outdoor setting. Modeled somewhat after the famous "Fancy Farm" debates, the event will feature candidates speaking for three to five minutes each on various races before facing immediate audience reaction, which could range from cheering to heckling. While the host acknowledges that previous political gatherings can get rowdy, they expect this specific event to be more sedate and family-friendly, though MC Shawn Allen jokingly expressed a desire to referee any potential altercations inspired by recent social media conflicts between political advocates. The gathering aims to cover a wide range of elections across multiple counties, including Floyd, Pike, Johnson, Martin, Magoffin, and Knott, dispelling the misconception that an event held at Archer Park in Prestonsburg is limited only to Floyd County residents. The organizers are inviting food trucks and local nonprofits to set up tables to create a fun community atmosphere, with several high-profile candidates already confirming their attendance, including Charles Booker and various contenders for Senate, Governor, and Congress. This broad scope ensures that voters from the entire region have an opportunity to engage with their representatives in person rather than just through traditional media channels. Beyond the entertainment value provided by food and community organizations, the primary purpose of the event is voter education and civic engagement. The hosts emphasize that it is crucial for citizens to understand what candidates stand for before heading to the polls, as being well-informed is a prerequisite for casting a meaningful vote. By allowing voters to hear speeches directly and react in real-time, the event seeks to bridge the gap between politicians and the public, ensuring that people are not just passive observers but active participants in the democratic process. Ultimately, the success of this initiative relies on encouraging attendees to leave the park with a deeper knowledge of their options and a renewed motivation to get out and vote.

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Politics season is upon us, and Mountain View wants a piece of the action. >> Well, I mean if if people are familiar with Fancy Farm, that's kind of like what we're doing here. We're inviting the candidates to come out and speak. They'll each, depending on the race and everything, they'll be given like 3 to 5 minutes to say whatever they want. The audience can react to that. They can cheer for the ones they like. They can jeer the ones they don't or heckle them or anything like that. Uh it gets pretty rowdy at Fancy Farm sometimes, but I I don't expect that to necessarily be the case here. I think we're we're a little more sedate here. >> MC Shawn Allen is hoping for quite the opposite. >> Personally, I suggested that the candidates get in a big mud bath and kind of do some mud wrestling to kind of instead of debating, but the higher-ups, they don't really listen to any of my ideas, so I'm kind of out on that. Well, I really hope that I have to get in and referee some of these candidates in their politicking because, you know, as we've seen on social media here lately, some not so much candidates, but some advocates [snorts] of politicians have gotten into it on social media. They've gotten to some physical altercations and things of that nature. I don't foresee that happening. We've got some really outstanding individuals that are running for office this year, but I really hope so. I hope for the best, to be honest with you. >> At Audiology Associates of Prestonsburg, you can live your life the way you want and find the freedom of better hearing. With 40 years of being in the hearing care industry, you'll experience patient care that is specific to you with exceptional follow-up care that ensures your hearing and balance needs are being met. Audiology Associates at 1428 North Lake Drive in Prestonsburg. >> All joking aside, this will be a family-friendly event. >> It it should still be a fun day. Plus, we're inviting food trucks out. Uh they can get in contact with us here at the station uh to set that up. We're also inviting any nonprofits out there to come and set up a table. They have to bring their own table, chairs, or whatever. >> If you're interested in participating, there's still time to sign up. >> We're looking at the statewide, the regional, and the uh countywide contested races in Floyd, Pike, Johnson, Martin, Magoffin, and Knott counties. Uh a lot of people have a mistaken belief that because this is at Archer Park in Prestonsburg, it's just Floyd County. That's not the case because we will be broadcasting this live. Uh we're already getting some uh commitments from candidates. Uh Charles Booker has said he'll be there. Some of the other Senate candidates, uh candidates in the governor's race, congressional candidates, uh quite a few of them are already letting us know that they will be there. >> So, why should you attend Politickin' in the Park? >> It's really important for people to know and the people be informed about what these candidates stand for or don't stand for when they get to the polls. So, just for them to be more well-informed about the candidates and for them to be able to get out and most importantly get out and cast your vote because none of this makes any sense if you're not going to get out and vote. So, just for them to be more informed and to be more well-versed on what the candidates have to say and what they stand for. >> Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm Robin Tilman.