Election 2016: Governor Brown and Dr. Bud Pierce Face-Off In First Debate

Governor Kate Brown and the Republican who wants to replace her, Dr. Bud Pierce, shared a stage in Bend Saturday night in the first of five debates the two will have before election day. The event was sponsored by the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, The East Oregonian, and Jefferson Public Radio.

John Sepulvedo of the Society of Professional Journalists set the tone right off the bat, telling the audience that cheering was okay but booing was off-limits.

"There's enough mean-spiritedness in politics today," he said. "We can keep it out of here."

The candidates - who are running to serve the last two years of the term vacated by John Kitzhaber when he resigned under a cloud of scandal in 2014 - seemed to Sepulvedo's word to heart as they disagreed, but nicely.

As expected - they disagreed on a lot of the basics.

Brown is in favor of Measure 97, which would tax businesses that do more than $25 million in business, while Pierce says it will increase the cost of living for every Oregonian.

Pierce wants the federal government to start transferring Western lands back to the states and counties while Brown calls his plan unrealistic.

The two will meet at least four more times before election day.

On September 30th, they will be in Portland for a debate sponsored by the Portland City Club.

One October 6th, they will head to Eugene for a debate co-sponsored by Oregon Public Broadcasting and the League of Women Voters

A week later, on October 13th, they will be in Medford for a debate co-sponsored by KOBI-TV and KOTI-TV.

Then, on October 20th, back to Portland for the last debate - sponsored by KGW-TV and The Oregonian.

Two other debates are still being considered.

One - proposed by Pamplin, publisher of The Portland Tribune and other papers, and KOIN-TV, was declined by Brown's office.