College hosting VPA debates for statewide offices

The Vermont Press Association is sponsoring “Debate Sunday” to allow voters a chance to hear the candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general on Sunday Oct. 23, at Saint Michael’s College.

All candidates for the three statewide offices are invited to the event, which is being held in conjunction with the College’s Media Studies, Journalism and Digital Arts Department.

Each debate is planned for 90 minutes in the McCarthy Arts Center. The debates will be livestreamed and telecast live on Channel 17/Town Meeting TV.

Voters will hear the views of the candidates in the three races.  The start times and invited candidates are:

1 p.m. – Candidates for attorney general:  Republican Deborah “Deb” Bucknam of Walden; Democrat T.J. Donovan of South Burlington; and Rosemarie Jackowski of Bennington.

3 p.m. – Candidates for governor:  Liberty Union Bill “Spaceman” Lee of Craftsbury; Democrat Sue Minter of Waterbury; and Republican Phil Scott of Berlin.

5 p.m. – Candidates for lieutenant governor:  Republican Randy Brock of  Swanton; Liberty Union Boots Wardinski of Newbury; and Progressive/Democratic David Zuckerman of Hinesburg;

The event is free and open to the public.

“Debate Sunday” is one of the few chances for Vermonters to hear all the candidates under one roof at the same time, Vermont Press Association President Adam Silverman said.

Questioners and moderators will come from members of the Vermont Press Association.  The VPA, which represents the interests of the 11 daily and four dozen non-daily printed newspapers circulating in Vermont, has headquarters at Saint Michael’s College, overseen by longtime adjunct and retired veteran Burlington Free Press reporter Mike Donoghue.

Questions also will be solicited from the public attending the debates. Following the event, copies of each debate will be shared for rebroadcast on various cable TV systems throughout Vermont in the coming weeks.