Candidates expect 3rd District debate to be 'cordial' but lively

photo Chuck Fleischmann and Mary Headrick are seen in this composite photo.

IF YOU GOThe debate will be held at the WTCI studio at 8 p.m. Oct. 27 and broadcast live on WTCI and on timesfreepress.com and wtcitv.org.After the debate is over, it will be available on timesfreepress.com and wtcitv.org, and it will be rebroadcast on WTCI at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 and at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 2.To submit questions, use the hashtags #TN03 or #TN3rd on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram or email news@timesfreepress.com or tn3rd@wtciTV.org.To attend the debate live, email jcrutchfield@wtcitv.org to reserve seats. Doors close at 7:30 for the studio audience.

With just more than a week before the two candidates seeking to represent Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District meet for a head-to-head debate, the candidates say they expect to stick to issues - and keep it clean.

Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and Democratic challenger Mary Headrick will meet on Oct. 27 for a live debate produced by WTCI, the local PBS affiliate, and the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Fleischmann's camp says the Ooltewah Republican is looking forward to the discussion.

"I'm expecting a lively and cordial debate that will highlight the differences between Congressman Fleischmann and Mary Headrick," said spokesman Brian O'Shaughnessy. "Chuck will contrast the needs and desires of the 3rd District with those of Mary Headrick."

O'Shaughnessy said the congressman likely will focus on immigration, job creation and the national debt, domestically. And he'll speak on the threat of ISIS in the Middle East.

Headrick, a physician from Maynardville, Tenn., said Friday she is looking forward to discussing "health care, tax reform, the degree of regulation for both finance and the environment and the size of government."

She said she expected to see a kinder, gentler Fleischmann than the one who appeared in a Republican primary debate with challenger Weston Wamp.

She pointed to Fleischmann's recent split with longtime political ally Chip Saltsman as a reason.

"I expect him to be more polite and more willing to compromise in terms of what he'll say. I don't know if that would ever materialize in his votes. He's pretty partisan in that regard," Headrick said.

But she does expect one tactic from the incumbent.

"I think he will try to wrap me in an Obama cloth, and I guess I'll just have to respond to that," she said.

Editors and producers at WTCI and Times Free Press are compiling a list of questions for moderator Dave Flessner, business editor at Times Free Press.

But the news outlets are also asking what residents want to know.

"We encourage voters to send in questions for the candidates, and we're expecting a robust debate," Times Free Press Editor Alison Gerber said.

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.

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