St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley's re-election campaign announced today that it is agreeing to one debate, moderated by the League of Women Voters and televised throughout the region.
"A television debate that everyone can see," said campaign manager John Temporiti, adding that he hoped such a debate would be viewed on the Web as well as on broadcast television.
The timing of such a debate would be up to the League, he added.
Dooley, a Democrat, is competing against Republican Bill Corrigan, who also is calling for one League-sponsored debate, preferably in September. But Corrigan also has sent Dooley a letter requesting four debates to be held in various parts of the county and focus on different issues.
Temporiti said it is best to have one televised, widely viewed debate on a "broad range of topics" that "would reflect the diversity of the St. Louis County electorate."
He emphasized that the debate would be in addition to candidate forums held around the county, hosted by various civic groups, and featuring Dooley and Corrigan.
"We have been contacted by two of them already, and we will be participating,'' Temporiti said.
Forums tend to be less confrontational than debates. Forums generally have the candidate or candidates addressing the audience and taking questions, sometimes not at the same time. Debates often feature candidates parrying questions posed by a moderator or a team of journalists.
This article originally appeared in the St. Louis Beacon.
