Bellarmine University will host a debate for voters in the Metro Council 8th District featuring Republican challenger Kirt Jacobs and Democratic incumbent Tom Owen.Owen is a three-term councilman and his seat is being challenged by Jacobs in the upcoming election. Jacobs is a local businessman who hosts "Leadership Landscape" a weekly one-on-one interview program.Earlier this year, observers speculated that the 72-year-old Owen might retire and not seek re-election, but the longtime city lawmakers says he is committed to serving a full term and though he has won previous races by wide margins, he is taking this year’s election seriously."You would know by my current jitters that I am neither complacent about my request for the voters to send me for an additional term nor am I in anyway blasé or arrogant just presuming victory," he says.Owen says a clear difference between him and Jacobs is experience: Owen has served nine years and is an inaugural member of the council.The debate is being organized by the university’s Brown Scholars and co-sponsored by the Young Democrats, Young Republicans, Political Science Club and Students for Political Awareness. It will be moderated by Dr. Lee Remington Williams, assistant professor of political science. Owen says Jacobs is a serious contender and that he is not taking the race for granted."My jitters tell me that you take every challenger seriously," says Owen. "And the voters have the perfect right to ask me the basic question: have you lost your edge? And I can tell the voters that I have not lost my edge," he says.The District 8 debate is scheduled for 6:30 Wednesday evening at Bellarmine in Pasteur Hall. It is free and open to the public.
