Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Candidates Saddle Up for All-Inclusive Gubernatorial Debate in California, Thurs, Oct 28. | FreeandEqual.org



Candidates Saddle Up for All-Inclusive Gubernatorial Debate in California, Thurs, Oct 28.





SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While the Democratic and Republican Party candidates continue to debate only amongst themselves, the four other gubernatorial candidates in California are gearing up to participate in what is sure to be a vigorous, all-inclusive debate hosted atCalifornia State University, Sacramento, in the Forest Suite located on the second floor of the University Union, Thursday, October 28, 2010, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.



All ballot qualified candidates have been invited to participate in the event, which is the last leg of a nationwide all-inclusive debate tour supporting the right of voters to hear from all candidates on an equal playing field, and is sponsored by the campus chapter of Students for Liberty and The Free and Equal Elections Foundation.



Peace and Freedom Party candidate Carlos Alvarez, American Independent Party candidateChelene Nightingale, Libertarian Party candidate Dale Ogden and Green Party candidateLaura Wells, all vying to become the next governor of California, have agreed to participate in the debate. Democratic candidate Jerry Brown and Republican candidate Meg Whitmanalso have been invited to participate but have not yet responded.



Recently, Wells led a protest demanding all-inclusive candidate debates, prior to the gubernatorial candidate debate at Dominican University of California, which included only Brown and Whitman. After protesters made their way to the so-called “free speech zone” near Angelico Hall, where the debate was hosted, a spokeswoman said, Wells was given a ticket to attend the debate as a spectator but was arrested after passing the first security check point. Video footage of Wells’ arrest can be viewed on the KCRA website.



The Free and Equal debate will provide an equal platform for all ballot qualified candidates to discuss issues facing Californians this election season including Proposition 19 to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis in California, Proposition 8 for equal rights, war and proportional representation in addition to the those questions that plague the minds of Californians and Americans across the board.



The debate will follow a cumulative format, moderated by Christina Tobin, founder and chair of Free and Equal, and Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State of CaliforniaNational Public Radio (NPR), The New York TimesThe Washington PostHuffington PostChicago Sun-TimesThe Sacramento Bee, the Associated Press and other prominent media outlets typically cover Free and Equal events, and Free and Equal expects this debate to garner similar media coverage. This debate, like all Free and Equal sponsored debates, will be streamed live and archived on the Free and Equal website.



“These debates will demonstrate that it is not an undue burden, or even difficult, to include all ballot-qualified candidates,” Tobin said. “The other organizations planning on holding debates should fulfill their civic responsibility and also invite all ballot qualified candidates to participate.”



In order to help voters and potential voters make their voices heard on this issue, Free and Equal has launched an online petition calling for open, all-inclusive debates.



The debates are free and open to the public. Free and Equal asks that all media professionals planning to cover this event submit their requests for media credentials to Kaylee Campbell Burton, public relations director for Free and Equal, via email to kaylee@freeandequal.org, or by phone or text to 405.295.5420.


No comments:

Post a Comment