Big 2014 Campaign Event Tonight: Utah Attorney General Candidate Debate - Updated

Don't forget to mosey on back here later this evening, to share your post-debate notes, folks

Attention Weber County Forum Political wonks. Tonight's the night for the Utah Debate Commission's Utah Attorney General Candidate Debate, wherein Republican and Democratic Party candidates, Sean Reyes and Charles A. Stormont will square off  at 6:00 p.m. in the broadcast venues set forth below:

The Standard-Examiner carries this morning's online story on this topic for those WCF readers who'd like to bone up:

• Debate Wednesday in Utah attorney general race

To refresh your recollection, these are the Utah Attorney General candidates who will appear on your November 4, 2014 Weber County ballots, by the way:

Attorney General State of Utah - 4 year term

Declaration of Candidacy	Website/Contact Info	Campaign Finance Disclosures	Party
Leslie D. Curtis	Leslie D. Curtis Campaign Website	Leslie D. Curtis 2014	Independent American
Gregory G. Hansen	Gregory G. Hansen Campaign Website	Gregory G. Hansen 2014	Constitution
Andrew McCullough	Andrew McCullough Campaign Website	Andrew McCullough 2014	Libertarian
Sean Reyes	Sean Reyes Campaign Website	Sean Reyes 2014	Republican
Charles A. Stormont	Charles A. Stormont Campaign Website	Charles A. Stormont 2014	Democratic

Sadly, tonight's debate action will be limited to the GOP and DEMO opponents, as the Utah Debate Commission, in its "infinite wisdom", has cavalierly decided to exclude the three third-party candidates listed below, notwithstanding the fact that they've all qualified to appear on 2014 Weber County ballots:

• Gregory G. Hansen - Constitution
• Leslie D. Curtis - Independent American
• Andrew McCullough - Libertarian

Here's the UDC live video link, for those who'd prefer to view this event online:

• Utah Debate Commission Live Video Stream

And don't forget to mosey on back here later this evening, to share your post-debate notes, folks.

Update 10/02/14 6:15 a.m.: Both the Standard and Tribune carry brief reports on last night's debates:

• Scandal colors first Utah attorney general candidates debate
• Sanctity of office at issue in attorney general debate

ABC4 News provides the full recorded video:


Comments, anyone?

Update 10/3/14 11:45 a.m: Check out excluded UBC Libertarian AG candidate Andrew McCullough's withering post-debate retort:

• A Change is Gonna Come

Here's the "money quote":

I am the consummate outsider. I have never worked for the government, and I am not influenced by what government employees think is good for the government. I prefer to look at the job as legal counsel for the people of the State of Utah, and will work to promote their interests.

Awaken from your crackpot Sean Hannity stupor, O Utah voters.  The 2014 candidacy of Mr. McCullough represent the best opportunity to clean up the Utah Attonet General's Office, once and for all

Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Third Parties to File FEC Complaints Over Debate Exclusions - Updated

Our take? If you qualify for the ballot, you should be included in the debates

Surprise of surprises? As a predictable response to their ham-handed exclusion from the currently ongoing Utah Debate Commission debates, we learn from the Salt Lake Tribune that certain "third-party candidates upset at being left out of televised debates announced their intention Wednesday to file formal complaints with the Federal Election Commission and county district attorneys, among other officials":

• Utah third parties to file FEC complaints over debate exclusions

Our take? If you qualify for the ballot, you should be included in the debates.

We'll be keeping a close eye on this development, to see how this all shakes out, of course, even though these late-in-coming legal efforts may amount to nothing more than "shutting the barn door, after the livestock have escaped."

Update 9/26/14 8:30 a.m.: Here's more from KSL News. “We’re getting charged if we want to have a similar amount of time, up to $2,000 for a 2:00 a.m. slot on broadcast media.” "Prime time slots can be costlier," Libertarian first district congressional candidate Craig Bowden complains:

• Third parties to formally complain about debate shut-out

Comments... anyone? Ferris?

Utah Elections 2014: Utah Debate Commission Live Broadcast Schedule - Updated

Sadly, all Utah third-party candidates have been entirely squeezed out

Attention Weber County Forum Political wonks. We're semi delighted to announce the first glimmerings of public events surrounding the upcoming 2014 Utah General Elections. Here's a nifty graphic highlighting the Utah Debate Commission debates which are coming up during the next couple of weeks:

Via the Utah Debate Commission website, here are the space-time coordinates for tommorrow's WSU campus event, which ought to be of interest to Weber County-situated political wonks who might like to personally attend:

1st Congressional District
Weber State University
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Ballroom B, Shepherd Union Bldg.
Click here for map and parking instructions.
Please visit weber.edu/walkerinstitute for ticket information.

For your convenience, here's a handy webpage for non-attendees who'd like to submit questions in advance.

Added bonus for those who'd like to view Tuesday's debate online:

• Utah Debate Commision Live Stream

The Utah First Congressional Debate will begin at 6:01 p.m. Tuesday September 23, 2014.

To refresh your recollection, these are the 1st Congressional District  U.S. House of  Representative candidates who will appear on your November 4, 2014 Weber County ballots, by the way:

U.S. House of Representatives 1st Congressional District - 2 year term

Declaration of Candidacy	Website/Contact Info	Campaign Finance Disclosures	Party
Rob Bishop	Rob Bishop Campaign Website	Pending	Republican
Craig Bowden	Craig Bowden Campaign Website	Pending	Libertarian
Donna McAleer	Donna McAleer Campaign Website	Pending	Democratic
Dwayne A. Vance	Dwayne A. Vance Campaign Website	Pending	Independent American

Notably, in their questionable "wisdom," which some are labeling as pre-election chicanery, the Utah Debate Commission will be limiting tomorrow's debate podium to GOP and Demo candidates Rob Bishop and Donna McAleer only  That's right, folks Independent American and Libertarian candidates Dwayne A. Vance and Craig Bowden have been entirely squeezed out.

It's also the same story in all other Utah Debate Commission featured debates, as to third-party candidates.

Sadly, we'll have to take what we can get however, we guess. It's the Utah Debate Commission's dog-and-pony show... not ours.

Yeah. We essentially agree with the Salt Lake Tribune:

• Editorial: Let the debates begin

Defective though the debate candidate screening process may be, let's get this show on the road.

We hope you'll all tune in tomorrow evening, in the event that you can't be there in person, folks.

Update 9/23/14 8:00 a.m.:  The Deseret News devotes some ink to defending the exclusion of all third-party candidates. "'You cannot be a genuine candidate unless you pay the price, The debate commission will not be the campaign for third-party candidates,' Scott Howell, commission co-chairman and a former Democratic state senator Howell said on The Doug Wright Show.":

• Debates ready to start, third-party candidates not included

"I am the Libertarian candidate for Attorney General. I have as good a chance to win as does the Democrat who polled 12.6% in the poll run by the Debate Commission. So, do your own research and don't let the powers that be decide for you. The debate Commission is co-chaired by long-time Republican and Democratic politicians who do not want to open it up for others to be heard. Let them know how you feel," Libertarian Attorney General candidate Andrew McCullough retorts.

Yep.  Looks like the "fix" is "in."

Update 9/24/14 6:25 a.m.: Both the Standard and  Trib provide post-debate reports:

• McAleer takes on Bishop in televised debate
• Fireworks in 1st District Debate

And for those who missed it, here's a recorded video of last night's 1st Congressional District slug-fest: