TEA Parties to sponsor 5th District GOP debates

The TEA Party grassroots organizations in the 5th District announced Friday they will sponsor three debates for candidates seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Tom Perriello.

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Published: December 04, 2009

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The TEA Party grassroots organizations in the 5th District announced Friday they will sponsor three debates for candidates seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Tom Perriello.

According to a news release, the debates will be scheduled from January to March in the Danville, Charlottesville and Lynchburg areas. The debates will precede the GOP’s nomination process, whether that is a primary or a convention. TEA Party leaders are calling for a convention.

“Our intent is to make the process fair and accessible to all viable candidates and give them the opportunity to prove themselves to the citizens of the 5th District,” Lynchburg TEA Party leader Mark Lloyd said in the release.

Lloyd noted that many TEA party members are independent from the GOP. “…Nevertheless, as Americans we intend to make our voices heard and we intend to be part of the political process.”

Danville area TEA Party leader Nigel Coleman predicted “people will see the growth of the TEA Party movement and its effect on the political landscape” during the 2010 election cycle.