UK to Host Governor's Debate This Fall
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2019) — The second televised debate for the office of governor of Kentucky will be held on the University of Kentucky’s campus Tuesday, Oct.15, in the Singletary Center for the Arts, located at 405 Rose St., in Lexington. Free tickets are available to the UK community and the public for admittance to the live debate.
Candidates Gov. Matt Bevin and Attorney General Andy Beshear have confirmed their participation in the event co-sponsored by the UK Student Government Association (SGA), the League of Women Voters of Kentucky and Gray Television and its TV stations serving Kentucky.
For anyone wanting to attend the live debate in UK's Singletary Center Concert Hall, free tickets can be obtained here. Attendees must be seated by 6:45 p.m. when the doors will be closed. The actual debate will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. For the event, no bags or backpacks will be permitted in the auditorium. Purses larger than 6.5 by 4.5 inches will also not be permitted, and no signs or placards will be allowed in the Concert Hall or the Singletary Center. Paid visitor parking will be available in the South Limestone Garage located near Avenue of Champions.
The debate will be broadcast live from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time and 6 to 7 p.m. Central Time, Oct. 15, on the following Gray Television stations: WKYT in Lexington; WAVE in Louisville; WBKO-FOX in Bowling Green; WYMT in Hazard; and TriState's CW in Huntington, West Virginia.
The debate will also be livestreamed on the following TV stations' websites: WBKO in Bowling Green; KFVS in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; WXIX in Cincinnati; WFIE in Evansville, Indiana; WVLT in Knoxville, Tennessee; WYMT in Hazard; WSAZ in Huntington; WKYT in Lexington; and WAVE in Louisville.
Moderators for the event are news anchors Bill Bryant of WKYT and Shannon Cogan of WAVE. The League of Women Voters of Kentucky's nonpartisan policies will be followed, and questions for the candidates will be solicited from university students across the state as well as debate sponsors. Questions will be selected by the sponsors in order to cover a wide range of topics of interest to Kentuckians.
UK Student Government Vice President Katherine Speece says SGA is excited to give UK students the opportunity to witness the event live.
“It is such an honor to be able to host Kentucky’s gubernatorial candidates here on campus," Speece said. "I hope that this debate offers clarity to voters and progresses us to a better Kentucky.”
State President Fran Wagner of the League of Women Voters of Kentucky says having debates is important to the integrity of a true democracy.
“The League of Women Voters of Kentucky invites everyone to join us for this debate between candidates for governor. Democracy only works when we all become active and informed, casting votes for the candidates of our choice,” Wagner said.