Evansville City Councilwoman Missy Mosby was invited to appear on Tri-State Voices for the March 25, 2015 taping.  Ms. Mosby legitimately had a conflict for the evening with the Mayor’s Traveling Town Hall, which was located in the Second Ward that night. However, Mosby refused to reschedule the discussion with her opponent Steve Davis and was dishonest in recounting the issue to her voters vie Facebook.  In addition she also failed to disclose her ability to reschedule the taping of the Tri-State Voices show for essentially any time she chose.  We were also insulted to hear there was an attempt made asking that Mosby receive a pass for coming on the show.

Tri-State Voices is a popular weekly 30 minute program on local Cable television, City County Observer You Tube Channel.  This program is hosted by a well known local Democrat (Mark Owen) and Republican (Cheryl Musgrave) who prepare questions for the candidates that are not disclosed prior to the program taping. For this election cycle the City Council At Large candidates, City Clerk candidates and one of the candidates for the First Ward have already appeared. The program thus far has proven to be a fair discussion about important issues facing the community. It is also the only forum for the May 5th Primary where candidates must carry themselves. Unlike written questions that can be answered by anyone, candidates must think on their feet while viewers can surmise their comfort level and body language in answering tough questions.

With city budgets upside down, eating away at reserves, and more and more of gambling revenue being used for downtown projects, other questions worthy of an answer is whether Mosby would support a tax increase or annexation. The voters have a right to answers and to determine Mosby’s ability understand the City’s finances. The assumption is she has no such ability. She has supported the current Mayor’s spending habits and opposed every attempt to bring the City’s finances into order. With a refusal to cut budgets, her constituents should know her plan for infrastructure and park maintenance beyond her statements to the Courier & Press that more money should be spent. Where will this money come from? What other part of the budget should be cut? People want answers, and she should be more than willing to provide them.

It is important to point out that this week Tri-State Voices program is presently on the City County Observer You Tube Channel for the remainder of the week.  Ms. Mosby opponent Steve Davis showed up for the taping of the show and answered many pointed questions concerning his stance on local governmental issues.  We encourage to visit our You Tube site and view for yourself how 2nd Ward City Council candidate Steve Davis conducts himself during this interview.  As far as Ms. Mosby we guess you can follow her political stances on her Facebook.

Prior to revealing our endorsements for the Primary, we would like to again extend an invitation to Councilwoman Mosby to participate in Tri-State Voices TV Show and correct the impression she lacks answers to the City’s financial woes. Finally, we are aware of emails and texts from Tri-State Voices     co-hosts that foreshadow questions and offer new dates. Ms. Mosby can simply respond to an email or text and set up a new time.  We strongly encourage her to face her opponent.  By not doing so she looks like she has taken her re-election to City Council for granted.