This Friday I’ll moderate a DFL candidates forum at Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids. All six announced DFL candidates for governor are scheduled to attend the debate, which begins at 7 p.m.
The forum is free to the public and will be held at Chuckers Auditorium. Itasca Community Television (ICTV) will record and rebroadcast the event. Various media outlets will cover the proceedings as well.
DFL candidates include:
- Chris Coleman, Mayor of St. Paul
- Tina Liebling, State Representative from Rochester
- Erin Murphy, State Representative from St. Paul
- Rebecca Otto, State Auditor from Marine on St. Croix
- Paul Thissen, State Representative from Minneapolis
- Tim Walz, Congressman from Mankato
Local nonprofit groups will hold an expo prior to the forum that starts at 3 p.m. The forum is sponsored by the Itasca Community College Sexuality and Gender Equality (SAGE) Club and the Itasca County DFL. A straw poll will also be conducted during the forum.
I aim to figure out a way to share the debate with you here at MinnesotaBrown.
It’s going to be an exciting election season for me. Freed of any campaign involvement, I’ll be approaching this contest strictly as a journalist, albeit one with disclosed biases. In addition to moderating this forum, I’ll be co-moderating a Northern Community Radio general election debate next fall featuring all major party candidates.
I can’t preview the questions for you, but my general philosophy on debates is that they should serve as opportunities for candidates to distinguish themselves. The goal is to provide contrast that will allow voters to make an informed choice not only on policy positions, but on priorities and leadership as well.
Thank you Aaron!!