Robert Ashley, news director of KHVN Heaven 97 Radio, said he was hoping for a calm, mature discussion between Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and his opponent, Dwaine Caraway, when he had the two men and other candidates on his radio show Monday afternoon.
But what he got was the complete opposite.
“So we were hoping to have an informative conversation. We were hoping that it did not get out of hand. And especially being a gospel station, we hoped the politicians would respect what we perceive as a radio station that's the house of the Lord, God himself. That was not the case,” said Ashley.
During a commercial break a fight broke out between the longtime political rivals, resulting in the two men being pulled apart from one another.
“We were disappointed and we even apologized to our listeners, because as Christians, we like to do things decent and in order and this just didn’t happen,” Ashley said.
On Tuesday, both Price and Caraway took to various media outlets to apologize for their individual behavior.
But Ashley said he wants to see more from the two men.
“If we could see both of these gentlemen go before your camera or go before the media together and apologize publicly. Both of them, together,” Ashley said.
But when asked by NBC 5 if he would invite the men to come together back at his station, Ashley declined.
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“I doubt it. We would probably not invite them back here just because we wouldn’t want to take that chance again,” he said.
Ashley also mentioned that the two men need to keep voters in mind.
He said the Heaven 97 appearance could have helped the candidates. Now, it might do the opposite.
“If you want to fight. If you want to curse, if you want to get out there and use the 'n-word,' I don't think that's representative of the people. So I think it could possibly sway some votes,” Ashley said.
The Texas primary vote is Tuesday, March 1.
