Debates featuring candidates for governor and U.S. Senate will be held at UST
Two debates featuring major party candidates for Minnesota governor and the U.S. Senate will be held Sunday, Oct. 29, in Brady Educational Center auditorium at St. Thomas.
The hour-long debates are sponsored by the Minnesota League of Women Voters and KSTP 5-Eyewitness News, and will be broadcast live by KSTP and four Hubbard Broadcasting stations – KAAL in Austin, KSAX in Alexandria, WDIO in Duluth and WIRT in Hibbing.
St. Thomas will receive about 60 free tickets, most of which will be disbursed by student organizations such as the All College Council, College Democrats, College Republicans and the Political Science Club.
The ACC will hold a special drawing Thursday afternoon for 10-15 tickets for students; if interested, send a note to Ryan Weyandt, vice president of administration for the ACC, by noon Thursday. Students who attend the debates must be in their seats by 5:30 p.m., cannot leave until 8 p.m. and cannot wear any political buttons or paraphernalia.
The other tickets will be distributed by the League of Women Voters to its members and to each of the campaigns.
The 6 p.m. governor's debate will feature Republican incumbent Tim Pawlenty, who is being challenged by DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch and Peter Hutchinson of the Independence Party. U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, a Republican, DFLer Amy Klobuchar and
Robert Fitzgerald of the Independence Party will participate in the 7 p.m. Senate debate.
News reporters and anchors from the Hubbard stations will moderate the debates and ask questions. There will be no questions from the audience.
