By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The verbal sparring will continue Tuesday night as the only gubernatorial debate to be held in Aroostook County will emanate from the Presque Isle Middle School auditorium.
Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) and WAGM-TV will host the debate Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. – exactly one week before voters cast their ballots. The event will be open to the public for those interested in attending in person, and will also be broadcast live on WAGM’s CBS affiliate, with a re-broadcast planned for the following weekend on the station-owned FOX affiliate.
In preparation for the hour-long exchange between Republican Paul LePage, Democrat Libby Mitchell and Independent candidates Eliot Cutler, Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott, the co-sponsors are turning to the public to submit questions for the candidates vying to become Maine’s next governor.
“We want to ensure that questions on the minds of county residents are asked to the candidates. This is the one opportunity we have heading into Election Day where those wanting to lead our state through some very challenging times will share the stage in northern Maine,” said Jon Gulliver, WAGM-TV station manager and news director. “We encourage our viewers to submit questions through our website (www.wagmtv.com) that will be considered amongst those to be asked of the candidates participating in the debate.”
LEAD and WAGM solicited questions from county residents earlier this month at the Fall and Winter Expo held at The Forum in Presque Isle at a booth set up specifically for that purpose and to register new voters. The deadline for submitting a question is Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. A panel of LEAD and WAGM representatives will select from the submissions those that will be asked during the debate.
“LEAD is extremely pleased to collaborate with WAGM to host this debate in The County. It will provide an important opportunity for the people of the region to hear the candidates’ views on issues impacting northern Maine,” said Virginia Joles, LEAD president. “As an organization committed to fostering and encouraging the balanced development of Aroostook County, it is most fitting that we offer county residents and business owners this type of forum to ensure that, whichever of the candidates is elected, we can be certain he or she is aware of the issues impacting our region.”
The format for the debate will be moderator-led with questions including those submitted by the public and others developed by debate organizers. The exchange will feature opening and closing remarks by each candidate.
Efforts to host the Northern Maine Gubernatorial Debate were initiated by LEAD last February when the organization’s board of directors formally voted to host the event. WAGM-TV was identified as LEAD’s partner in July and contact, including an official invitation, was made that same month with both the LePage and Mitchell campaigns. Both candidates agreed to take part by early August and the mutually acceptable date of Oct. 26 was set.
In addition to the television broadcast, the debate will also be aired live on two county radio stations. Both the Channel X Radio Network (97.7 FM, 98.1 FM, 102.3 FM and 103.1 FM) and Citadel Broadcasting station Big Country 97 (96.9 FM) will run the debate in its entirety from 7-8 p.m. Oct. 26.
LEAD, working with a coalition of county media partners, had also attempted to schedule a Maine Second District U.S. Congressional Debate in northern Maine between incumbent Democratic Congressman Michael Michaud and challenger Republican Jason Levesque. However, a mutually acceptable date could not be identified for such an exchange in Aroostook County in the final month of the campaign.
Presque Isle Middle School doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and close just prior to on-air instructions at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are free of charge and will be made available through Judy Dinsmore by calling 207-498-8736 or by e-mailing jdinsmore@nmdc.org.
