Lloyd Albritton, host of “Lloyd and Friends,” a daily radio show on WBZR 105.9 FM, has announced that his production company, Nothing 2 Lose Productions (N2LP), will produce a live, on-air debate on Thursday, May 8, between several of the Republican candidates vying for Alabama Senate District 22. The debate will be broadcast at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.

Five Republican candidates are seeking the party’s nomination to this seat, which is currently held by Democrat Mark Keahey.

The four candidates who have confirmed they will join the debate are former Atmore native Jeff Peacock, Evergreen attorney and former state representative Greg Albritton, retired Army chaplain and Bay Minette resident Stephen Sexton and Bay Minette attorney Harry D’Olive.

As of Thursday, only Brewton businessman Danny Joyner had yet to agree to the debate.

“I believe a live radio debate will serve the interests of all our voting citizens, instead of just the few political zealots who usually attend these events,” Lloyd Albritton said, in a press release announcing the debate. “This Senate race encompasses a lot of issues and these gentlemen running for this high office are educated and well-spoken.

“I expect they will all perform well and our listeners will come away from it better prepared to cast their vote on June 3.”

Keahey is unopposed in the June 3 Democratic primary, but will face one of the five Republicans in the general election in November.

Keahey will complete one full four-year term in office at the end of 2014, having succeeded the late W.H. “Pat” Lindsey, a Democrat who held the office from 1982 until his death on Jan. 11, 2009.

Republicans have twice attempted to gain control of this Senate seat — first, in a special 2009 election following Lindsey’s death, and again in 2011 in the general election. Greg Albritton was the Republican nominee in 2009, but did not choose to run again in 2011. In 2011, Joyner won the Republican primary over Peacock, but lost to Keahey in the general election.

“Political prognosticators are predicting a very low voter turnout,” Lloyd Albritton said. “I don’t know who will win the debate, but I am hopeful that this landmark event will improve our voter turnout, which will be good for all the candidates.”

Any questions or comments regarding the upcoming debate may be directed to lloyd@atmore1059.com.