PRESQUE ISLE — Aroostook County will host one of only two scheduled debates between the candidates for Maine’s Second District Congressional seat.
Republican Congressman Bruce Poliquin and Democratic challenger Emily Cain will take part in the live, televised exchange hosted by WAGM-TV and the Aroostook Partnership on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
The hourlong debate will be held at WAGM-TV’s studio on the Brewer Road in Presque Isle and be broadcast on the television station’s CBS affiliate.
In addition to airing live in northern Maine, the debate will reach viewers statewide as it will be simulcast on WMTW-TV, the ABC affiliate in Portland, and WABI-TV, the CBS affiliate in Bangor.
C-SPAN has also expressed interest in re-broadcasting the local debate in its entirety as part of its coverage of key national races.
“There is significant interest throughout the state and across the country in Maine’s Second District Congressional Race,” said WAGM-TV News Director Kelly OMara. “We are pleased that both candidates have agreed to participate in the WAGM-TV/Aroostook Partnership Debate and that our broadcast partners in central and southern Maine will join us in sharing this debate throughout Maine. This will not only ensure that questions of Aroostook County voters are asked, but that some key issues of national significance are addressed by the candidates before a statewide and possibly national audience.”
Questions will be those submitted by County residents through an online form found on both the WAGM-TV and Aroostook Partnership websites. In addition, the television station will seek out and videotape some questions asked directly by County residents, and accept questions mailed to the television station that include the full name, town and phone number of the individual.
“Aroostook County residents and organizations have a tremendous opportunity to have their questions asked to the individuals looking to represent us in Congress for the next two years,” said Aroostook Partnership President and CEO Bob Dorsey. “We strongly encourage folks to take advantage and submit questions.”
The debate will be moderated by OMara, who will be joined in asking the submitted questions by Aroostook Partnership Advocacy Committee Chairperson Jason Parent and WMTW-TV Political Reporter Paul Merrill.
In addition to the Second District Congressional Debate, a series of Aroostook County legislative candidate conversations will be televised for two weeks, beginning Oct. 24. Candidates in the eight County races for the Maine House of Representatives and two Maine Senate contests will appear for back-to-back five-minute interviews that will be aired live during the 5:30 p.m. newscast each evening and rebroadcast on the following morning’s newscast.
The evening air dates for House district candidates are: District 144, Oct. 24; District 145, Oct. 25; District 146, Oct. 26; District 147, Oct. 27; District 148, Oct. 28; District 149, Oct. 31; and Districts 150 and 151, where candidates are running unopposed, Nov. 1. Senate candidates will be aired as follows: District 1, Nov. 2; and District 2, Nov. 3.
Questions for these short interviews will also be submitted by County residents and not known to candidates before the interviews, with the exception of the first question asked of all candidates: “If elected, what are your top three priorities in the coming legislative session?”
