So where are the candidate debates?

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Now that the candidates have filed for office, I wanted to know when the primary debates are scheduled.

DebateI checked the Pima County Republican Party web site calendar of events. There are no debates listed.

I checked the League of Women Voters state and Tucson web sites. There are no debates listed.

I checked Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission for the calendar of debates required for participating candidates, Citizens Clean Elections, but that schedule “will be made available in June 2014.”

Last week, our PBS station here in Tucson ended the run of Arizona Illustrated, which for years has hosted candidate interviews and debates. So that’s gone.

The media constantly bitches and moans about the need for an informed electorate participating in our democracy, but does nothing to inform the electorate. The media barely covers the substantive issues in campaigns, choosing instead to focus on “horse race” reporting and internal candidate polls designed to manipulate the media, while hoping for a salacious scandal.

Here’s a novel idea: whatever happened to the days when the local tee-vee news stations and local newspapers used to sponsor candidate debates? They used to team up with various community organizations like the League of Women Voters, the Chamber of Commerce, or other organizations to sponsor candidate debates. And they even televised them! Radio too!

Here in Tucson the media can rent out the downtown Fox Theater, or go midtown at The Loft Cinema. The U of A, Pima College, and Tucson Community Center all have facilities available. Some of the local churches have even made their facilities available in the past. It is available for the asking if the media really wanted to sponsor debates.

So when is the media going to step up and fulfil its obligation to inform the public by sponsoring debates? You would think that they want the candidates to answer their questions so they actually have something to report.

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5 thoughts on “So where are the candidate debates?”

  1. Since deadline for filing was 5/28 @5:00pm, how can you expect debates to be scheduled before June??

    • A media sponsored event must be arranged weeks in advance to reserve the space and to advertise the event. The media knows who the candidates are long before the filing date — it’s not like a surprise on Christmas morning. If there’s a late entry the media simply sends another invitation. This ain’t rocket science.

  2. Drinking Liberally -Tucson chapter has been hosting primary debates for many years and we intend to continue doing so. Every future event will be posted on Blog for Arizona -Calendar.
    For questions, suggestions, issues contact me: mariana@livingliberallytucson.org

  3. The League of Women Voters of AZ and Greater Tucson are in the process of setting up a forum for GOP candidates for governor for the primary in the first week in August. We are also doing forums for the general election for Governor, Supt Public Instruction, AZ Corporation Commission, Secretary of State and Attorney General. These are in collaboration with Public Media.

    Do not cross the League off yet. It takes a lot of time to coordinate the forums on places and dates (especially when you have 7 candidates with their own schedules). When they are set, the info will be up on the LWVAZ website and the LWV Greater Tucson website and, naturally, to the media.

    I enjoy your blog every day. Way to start the day.

    Gini McGirr

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