They Are Ready to Rumble: Candidates for Governor Set First Debate

Governor Kate Brown and her Republican challenger, Bud Pierce, have agreed to debate September 24th in Bend.

The debate, sponsored by the Oregon Society of Professional Journalists, will focus on issues facing rural residents.

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“With more than a month between this debate and election day, we hope the issues raised will help give voters enough time to learn where the two major candidates stand on a range of rural issues, from the environment to education to the economy," said Oregon SPJ President Samantha Swindler, a columnist for the Oregonian.

Oregon SPJ will host the debate in partnership with The East Oregonian, KTVZ-TV and Jefferson Public Radio. The Oregon SPJ Board says that they sought these distinguished media partners out as they represent some of the best journalism dedicated to serving rural Oregon.

The hour-long debate will be a moderator-panelist format in front of a live audience. Candidates will get 90 seconds for opening statements, then will field questions from the panel made solely of rural journalists. Candidates will get 60 seconds to respond, with a 30-second rebuttal period. Each candidate will be provided with a 90-second closing.

SPJ is working for media partners to broadcast the debate in other parts of the state including Portland and Salem.

The first debate is normally sponsored in July by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.

Brown declined that invitation, saying she would not debate before September.