Staff Reports
Conway -- Candidates in eight races have agreed to participate in "Election 2018: AETN Debates," which will tape and air on the Arkansas Educational Television Network Oct. 8-12.
All debates will be held at the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall, 223 Beatrice Powell St., on the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway. Admission is free, and the public is invited. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Doors will open one hour prior to taping times. Debates will also stream live on aetn.org.
The following candidates have verbally committed to participating in AETN's debates:
• Governor: Jared Henderson (D), incumbent Asa Hutchinson (R) and Mark West (L).
• Lieutenant Governor: Anthony Bland (D), Frank Gilbert (L) and incumbent Tim Griffin (R).
• Attorney General: Kerry Hicks (L), Mike Lee (D) and incumbent Leslie Rutledge (R).
• Secretary of State: Susan Inman (D), Christopher Olson (L) and John Thurston (R).
• U.S. Congressional District 1: incumbent Rick Crawford (R), Chintan Desai (D) and Elvis Presley (L).
• U.S. Congressional District 2: Clarke Tucker (D), incumbent French Hill (R) and Joe Ryne Swafford (L).
• U.S. Congressional District 3: Michael Kalagias (L), Josh Mahony (D) and incumbent Steve Womack (R).
• U.S. Congressional District 4: Tom Canada (L), Hayden Catherine Shamel (D) and incumbent Bruce Westerman (R).
In addition to keeping viewers informed about the candidates, AETN will also produce "Election 2018: Ballot Initiatives." The proposed initiatives that have reached the ballot will be discussed in this 30-minute program produced in conjunction with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
A final debate schedule is still being determined. Debates and ballot initiatives will repeat in two parts Sundays, Oct. 21 and 28, beginning at 12:30 p.m. each day. Additional information, including debate attendance rules, is available at aetn.org/election.
Major funding for "Election 2018: AETN Debates" is provided by AARP Arkansas.
Community on 08/15/2018