GOP heavyweights set to square off in Valley debate

WASILLA — By popular demand, a Valley summer series of political forums and debates has added another date for gubernatorial candidates.

On the eve of the primary election, Aug. 19, the three front-runners seeking the Republican nomination will meet at the Alaska Club to square off on the issues. Those three are Gov. Sean Parnell, Ralph Samuels and Bill Walker.

“We had a great deal of public outcry to have the governor participate in a debate,” said Diana Straub, who is organizing the events for the Greater Palmer and Greater Wasilla chambers of commerce. “Our candidates who had already done that did agree to come back so the governor could have someone to debate.”

Straub said she hasn’t heard the same demand for a Democratic debate. It’s not clear why, though the two Democrats left in the primary for the general-election ticket — Hollis French and Ethan Berkowitz — already appeared at previous events, having participated in a June 10 gubernatorial candidate forum.

“I think the public was able to ask questions and were happy with what they heard from those candidates at the forum,” Straub said.

Parnell did not attend that event, which caused some chatter on the Internet and allowed a few of his opponents to score points at his expense. Straub said Parnell’s absence was understandable — at least from the point of view of organizers. The chambers had asked him to commit to two back-to-back Thursdays for the gubernatorial forum and a follow-up debate. It was a tall order.

“He has to work his day job still, and so his schedule’s not quite as flexible as some of the other candidates’ might be,” she said.

The Aug. 19 debate will have three portions. There will be a debate with questions from the organizers, a section where the candidates can ask each other questions, and then a moderator-led conversation among the candidates.

This week was the only time between now and August not to feature a local debate or forum. Here is a rundown of the rest of the schedule. Unless otherwise noted, all events are at 5:30 p.m. at the Alaska Club in Wasilla:

• July 8: U.S. Representative, 5 to 6 p.m.

• July 15: U.S. Senate, 6 to 7 p.m.

• July 22: State House District 13 forum.

• July 29: State Senate District H forum.

• Aug. 5: Mat-Su Borough Assembly forum.

• Aug. 12: Mat-Su Borough School District forum.

• Aug. 19: Wasilla City Council forum.

• Aug. 26: Palmer City Council forum at the Palmer Depot.

• Aug. 26: Palmer mayoral candidates at the Palmer Depot.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.