EDITOR: The Bay Times mayoral debate - free for all

We've booked the theatre, the spotlights are primed and the invitations are out.
All we need now is for you to come along to the Bay of Plenty Times mayoral debate on September 10.
Three years ago we hosted the first such forum at Baycourt Theatre and it proved a great success.
The candidates were probed on the issues of the day and the feedback I received was that it proved a valuable event for the hundreds who attended.
This year's debate will be held at 5.30pm in the main theatre and if you are keen, tickets can be collected at our Durham St office in the city at no cost.
If there is a burning issue that you want an answer to, I'd love to hear your question, either to Mayoral Questions, The Editor, Bay of Plenty Times, Private Bag 12002, Tauranga or email editor@bopp.co.nz
We will be compiling questions for the night from your suggestions.
See you there.
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In last Saturday's paper we had a good look at the issue of child abuse from many points of view.
We tried to canvass widely in the community for solutions to a problem we all want to end real fast.
What is clear is that it is down to us - parents - to turn out children with the right set of values so they never want to do what we have seen of late.
But from time to time I come across individuals who give me cause for concern in the messages they are sending to their children.
On Saturday mornings in the Nicholson household, it is all about sport.
In winter, we have two children heading for the soccer field and one to netball. Last weekend I had the soccer run and started off by watching my seven-year-old daughter run around in mini-soccer at Fergusson Park.
At her age they have small fields, no boots and modified rules just to get the kids keen and involved.
It certainly isn't about winning at this age.
Late in the game, one of our players was running toward goal when an opposition child came from behind and kicked the ball away quite nicely to prevent a goal. Good play you might think.
It was then that I heard the father of the opposition kid yell out to him: "Take his legs out."
I couldn't believe my ears so I asked other parents around me if he really said that.
They all heard the same thing and shared my abhorrence that a father would instruct a seven-year-old to deliberately injure a player to stop a goal.
It was fair to say I was disgusted.
Now I do have a propensity to speak my mind, a trait I'm pretty sure some people, including my bosses, don't find my most endearing quality.
So, at the end of the game, I wandered over to this Dad to pass on my concerns over his behaviour.
I politely explained my concern to him.
I was flabbergasted that he denied saying any such thing and looked at me as if I was stupid.
Even when told five different people heard his comment, he didn't back down. He just arrogantly walked away.
I also passed on my concerns to the coach of his son's team that is was not a good look for junior soccer and asked whether he would speak to the father, which he did.
This incident reinforced to me the importance of the role modelling we do as parents.
If we teach our children to cheat, deceive or be dishonest, what can we expect of the next generation of parents.
Yes, the future is in our hands.
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In May we started a great series in Saturday's paper called Travel Tales.
In association with Shane Kennedy House of Travel, we asked you to share with us your most exciting travel adventures with a $2000 travel voucher going to one lucky contributor.
But like all good things, this series does have to come to end and we will close entries at the end of this month.
I personally have read all the entries and we have received many wonderful tales of adventure. We will continue to publish the best entries and at the end of November we will announce the winner of the $2000 prize from Shane Kennedy House of Travel.
So stay tuned, there is still fun and games to come.