Candidates Face-Off in U.S. Congressional Debate at SUU

Published: September 23, 2014 | Read Time: 2 minutes

With only available opening for the Utah second congressional district, U.S. Congressman Chris Stewart and challenger State Senator Luz Robles are aiming their fire at a congressional debate Thursday, September 25 at 6 p.m. at Southern Utah University’s Sterling Church Auditorium, located within the Sharwan Smith Student Center.

Closing in on Election Day on November 4, Robles and Stewart will be hosted by SUU’s Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and the Utah Debate Commission. All are welcome to attend to hear the candidates give their views on all topics, foreign and domestic.

Tickets are required to attend the event, but are free to obtain. Those interested in attending can receive tickets by emailing Eric Kirby at ericbkirby@suu.edu or visiting the Leavitt Center within SUU’s Sharwan Smith Student Center.

If unable to obtain a ticket, the debate will be streamed live at KUED, NBC and KBYU. A later showing of the event will be available at 9:30 p.m. on CW30.

The event will run as a traditional debate, beginning with opening statements by the candidates then followed by questions by Barb Smith, executive communications manager at the University of Utah. Questions may be submitted prior to the debate at utahdebatecommission.org.

The Utah Debate Commission will produce a series of debates during each election season, rotating debates at universities within the state, all of which will be streamed live. The recently inaugurated Debate Commission sponsors and coordinates statewide debates in each general election cycle.

By allotting live media coverage to all the events enforces candidates to participate and debate according to Eric Kirby, Leavitt Center executive director. He went on to explain, “This will require both candidates to participate and that all Utah citizens can be better informed on the issues, no matter their location.”   

Group tickets are available by contact Eric Kirby at erickirby@suu.edu. All others wanting tickets can acquire up to two tickets. Those with tickets need to be in their seats by 5:45 p.m.

Congressional candidates submitted the following statements:

Luz Robles (D) — "As a serving state senator I am committed to improving the quality of life of all Utahans and have a record of hard work and making things happen by working across the aisle on issues that truly impact the life of the working families in our state. I will use these same principles in Congress by assuring YOUR voice is represented."

Chris Stewart (R) — “I’m running for re-election because I am invested in the future of Utah and America. Trust is something that Utahns can count on from me. I have been working diligently over the last two years to invigorate our economy, fight against Obamacare and work on the issues that matter to Utah.  I believe in America, I will continue to fight hard for Utah and America."

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