Zionsville Debate

Performing Arts Center of Zionsville Community Schools
Administration: Julie Oakley, Rachel Shafer, Jim Uland, Tim East
Custodians/Maintenance: Rod Ehresman, Rex Goldsberry (and crew), Dennis Moore (and crew)
Technology: Jim Fletcher, Pat Taylor
Tech Crew: Joe Budd, Chris Kowala, Josh Rogers, Adam Wiesler, Arden Mower
Ushers: Mary Grabianowski’s Honors Government class
Zionsville Police Department: Rob Knox, Doug Gauthier and many others
Boone County Sheriff’s Department
Zionsville Chamber of Commerce: Julie Cole, Dusky Loebel, Cobblestone Grill, Greek’s Pizzeria
Zionsville Community Schools: Scott Robison, superintendent
Indianapolis Association of Black Journalists
League of Women Voters of Hamilton County

Indiana Debate Commission board members: Max Jones, Paul Chase, Alan Cloe, Tim Harmon, Kevin Finch, Gerry Lanosga, Michael Red, Keith Robinson, Dennis Ryerson (debate moderator), Cathleen Shrader, Carrie Sosbe, Randy Wheeler, Bill Wilson, Amos Brown

Indianapolis Debate

WFYI Staff
Mizell Stewart III, moderator
Tracy Heaton deMartinez, League of Women Voters of Indianapolis

Indiana Debate Commission board members: Max Jones, Cathleen Shrader, Kevin Finch, Keith Robinson, Dennis Ryerson, Gerry Lanosga, Tim Harmon, Paul Chase, Carrie Sosbe, Alan Cloe, Michael Red, Bill Wilson

South Bend Debate

The Rev. John Jenkins
The University of Notre Dame
The staff of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Mary Prince
The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County
The South Bend Tribune
John Ketzenberger (moderator) and Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute

Indiana Debate Commission board members: Max Jones, Kevin Finch, Keith Robinson, Cathleen Shrader, Tim Harmon, Bill Nangle, Dennis Ryerson, Tracy Warner, Paul Chase, Bill Wilson, Carrie Sosbe

New Albany Debate

IU Southeast Chancellor Sandra Patterson-Randles
Director of the Ogle Center at IU Southeast Kyle Ridout
IU Southeast Chief of Police Charlie Edelen
IU Southeast Director of University Communications Jenny Johnson Wolf
IU Southeast and Ogle Center staff
League of Women Voters of Clark County
Dennis Ryerson (moderator)
IU Southeast Police Department
Floyd County Sheriff’s Department
Floyd County Corrections
Indiana State Police
IU Bloomington Police Department
New Albany Police Department
Louisville International Airport Police

Indiana Debate Commission board members: Max Jones, Kevin Finch, Cathleen Shrader, Keith Robinson, Bill Wilson, Carrie Sosbe, Randy Wheeler, Dennis Ryerson, Tracy Warner, Terri Jett, Tim Harmon

Fort Wayne Debate

WFWA, PBS39
Bruce Haines, President/General Manager
Shannon Cagle Dawson, executive producer
Todd Grimes, Production Manager
Mark Ryan, Creative Services Manager
Ken Owen (moderator) and DePauw University
Warren Notestine and IPFW
Markey’s Rental & Staging

Indiana Debate Commission board members: Max Jones, Keith Robinson, Dennis Ryerson, Cathleen Shrader, Tracy Warner, Bill Wilson, Michael Red

All Debates-General Support

The Associated Press
AP Photographer Michael Conroy
Lakeshore Public TV
Rob Higley, president of Reveal Consulting
Kyle Niederpruem, president and CEO of Kyle Communications
The Exhibit House
Joe Misiewicz and Gwen Piening, Indiana Broadcasters Association
Roger Rhodes, Indiana Association of Public Broadcasting Stations
Hoosier State Press Association
Emmis
Chris Bowman, Internet Projects Manager for WFYI

Indiana voters are invited to submit questions on the commission’s website with links to both races from the home page.

For the governor’s race:
http://indianadebatecommission.com/submit-a-question-gubernatorial-debate/

For the U.S. Senate race:
http://indianadebatecommission.com/submit-a-question-senatorial-debate/

Questions are vetted by members of the commission and those who submit may be invited to ask their questions of the candidates in person.

Confirmed dates, times and locations for the gubernatorial debates with Republican Mike Pence, Libertarian Rupert Boneham and Democrat John Gregg are:

Date: Wednesday, October 10
Broadcast time: 7 p.m. EDT
City: Zionsville, Ind.
Venue: Zionsville Performing Arts Center
(live audience – seating up to 1,200)

Date: Wednesday, October 17
Broadcast time: 7 p.m. EDT
City: South Bend, Ind.
Venue: DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
(live audience – seating up to 840)

Date: Thursday, Oct. 25
Broadcast time: 7 p.m. EDT
City: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Venue: WFWA-TV PBS 39
(in studio/no live audience)

Confirmed dates, times and locations for the U.S. Senate debates with Republican Richard Mourdock, Libertarian Andrew Horning and Democrat Joe Donnelly are:

Date: Monday, October 15
Broadcast Time: 7 p.m. EDT
City: Indianapolis
Venue: WFYI-TV
(in studio/no live audience)

Date: Tuesday, October 23
Broadcast Time: 7 p.m. EDT
City: New Albany
Venue: Paul W. Ogle Cultural & Community Center, Indiana University Southeast (live audience – seating up to 500)

“The commission continues to put voters first as we engage with candidates in this fall election season with one of our busiest seasons ever,” said Max Jones, president of the commission and editor of the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute, Ind. “We also had a record number of venues submit applications this year and we also rely on their generosity to provide free and accessible sites to accommodate public attendance.”

The non-profit commission is the only independent group in the state of Indiana that provides free broadcast satellite feeds for those interested in sharing debates either live or delayed to communities across Indiana.

The commission also provides a live stream on its site for debate events and archives all of the taped debates on its website for later viewing.

Ticket availability, moderators and formats will be announced at a later time. Details for tickets will also be posted on the commission’s website and Facebook.

About the Indiana Debate Commission (IDC)
The Indiana Debate Commission is a non-partisan, statewide group representing 13 citizen and media affiliates dedicated to promoting debates at the state level. The volunteer commission, which incorporated in 2007 and is organized as a 501c3, works with candidates, venues and citizen groups to promote open, unbiased and transparent debates for Hoosier voters.  For more information, visit the website or Facebook.

The commission would like to thank 21 public and private venues across the state of Indiana whose owners and managers have asked to be considered. The commission requires facilities to be donated and also for technical requirements to be met to in order to provide quality statewide broadcasts for Hoosier voters.

Details of the upcoming debates and the selection of final locations will be released at a later date. The commission, the only nonpartisan and independent state debate group of its kind in the nation, plans three gubernatorial debates this fall and at least one U.S. Senate debate. Please follow our progress on the website or on Facebook.

Candidates include Democrat John Gregg, Republican Mike Pence and Libertarian Rupert Boneham.

The commission is also opening up the process for venues to apply and be considered for the debate locations. Venue requirements are listed on the commission’s website along with a venue application form. The deadline for venues to apply is Friday, July 27, by 5 p.m.

“Candidates have agreed in principle to three debates this fall with dates to be determined at a later time,” said Indiana Debate Commission President Max Jones, editor of the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute, Ind. “The statewide debates will provide widespread access for Hoosier voters.”

Jones said the commission achieved a similar milestone in 2008, when three debates were widely televised for the candidates then vying for the office of governor, including incumbent Mitch Daniels. Daniels leaves the governor’s office in January 2013 after serving two terms as Indiana governor.

In 2008, the commission hosted debates in Merrillville, Jasper and Bloomington – with both public and private venues donating facilities for statewide broadcasts.

“The commission, which is the only nonpartisan nonprofit in the nation hosting televised debates for state candidates, passed another milestone this year by sponsoring its 10^th debate,” said Jones. “The commission also plans to schedule a U.S. Senate debate prior to the fall election as we serve our mission to put voters first.”

The Indiana Debate Commission, as in past debates, determines all formats and selects moderators to maximize voter participation.

The commission, supported by 13 affiliate citizen and media associations, organized in 2007 with the goal of providing the widest possible viewing and listening audience for candidate forums and debates. The commission provides a free satellite feed for each debate. On average, more than 50 broadcast outlets across the state of Indiana carry the debates with the commission’s assistance.

For more information about the Indiana Debate Commission, visit: http://indianadebatecommission.com or http://www.facebook.com/IndianaDebateCommission.

For Interviews: Max Jones, max.jones@tribstar.com, 812-231-4336

WFYI PRODUCTION CREW

Kevin Finch
Shannon Cagle
Pete Kaiser
David DeMunbrun
Brian Sidor
Andy Young
Andrew Warren
Chris Capper
Joey Martin
Angel Carothers
Cedric Freeman
Frank Konermann
Pete Saetre
Brian Paul
Laura Garnelis
Steve Jensen
Nate Pass
Larry Mullins
Jeanette Rhodes
Brian C. Paul
Alan Cloe
Clayton Taylor

DEBATE MODERATOR

Phil Bremen

ON-SITE COMMISSIONERS

Max Jones
Alan Cloe
Kevin Finch
Amos Brown
Gerry Lanosga
Randy Wheeler
Cathleen Shrader
Carrie Sosbe
Keith Robinson
Dennis Ryerson
Michael Red
Bill Wilson

VOTER REVIEW COMMISSIONERS

Diane Hayes
Tracy Warner
Terri Jett

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

The Associated Press
League of Women Voters, Indianapolis chapter
Tracy Heaton de Martinez
Reveal Consulting
Kyle Communications
Edward M Cooning IV
Alan Petersime
Indiana Broadcasters Association
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations
IHETS

SET BANNERS

The Exhibit House

Candidates agreed to the commission’s format and rules with campaign officials signing a formal document Tuesday at WFYI Public Media in Indianapolis. WFYI is the station of origin for the one-hour broadcast.

Voters can submit their questions starting today online at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IndianaDebateCommission
Website: http://indianadebatecommission.com/submit-your-debate-question

Retired TV broadcaster and Assistant Ball State University Professor Phil Bremen will be the moderator. This is the first debate hosted for state and national viewing by the commission that has featured only two candidates.

This will be the only primary debate scheduled by the commission.

Voters can start submitting questions on the commission’s Facebook page and website. Those who are selected for consideration after screening by the commission will be offered the opportunity to ask their question in person or by pre-taped video via arrangements made by the commission.

“This year’s debate will be focusing on critical topics—jobs and the economy, international affairs and other pressing domestic issues of the day,” said Commission President Max Jones, editor of the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute, Ind. “Voters will be able to ask their questions directly, but we will also offer videotape options and questions submitted via Facebook.”

As has been the practice of past debates, a retired broadcaster with ties to local news organizations will be moderating.

Bremen spent eight years working as a national NBC News correspondent assigned to bureaus in Frankfurt and London. He has also reported and anchored for WTHR (NBC) and WRTV (ABC) in Indianapolis and KMSP (Fox) in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and he also was a co-anchor and senior correspondent at New Jersey Network, a public television and radio network. His background also includes a stint as press secretary for Gov. Frank O’Bannon.

Since the debate is scheduled in studio, there will be no public viewing audience. But viewing options will be available throughout the state for Hoosier voters, and the commission will also include a live stream on its website with the assistance of the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System.

National and state media organizations interested in carrying the debate will be provided a free satellite feed from the commission in order to guarantee the widest possible coverage. For media outlets interested in carrying the debate live, please watch the website for satellite specifications.

About the Indiana Debate Commission
The Indiana Debate Commission (IDC) is the only incorporated and independent debate group in the nation. The concept of this commission was created with the input of many voices during the course of a year’s planning in 2007. Represented by 13 affiliates, the IDC provides a free satellite feed to broadcasters during election years to provide the widest viewing and listening audience possible. The IDC has hosted nine widely televised debates in contested races in both primary and general elections. Organized as a 501c3, funding comes from affiliate pledges and professional services are donated. Visit the commission’s website or like the commission on Facebook.

The first debate of the year hosted by the commission – and the only primary debate – will be scheduled at the studios of WFYI in Indianapolis. Details on format, moderator and broadcast time will be announced at a later time, said Max Jones, president of the commission and editor of the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute, Ind.

Lugar has held the U.S. Senate seat for 35 years. Mourdock is the Indiana state treasurer.

The debate commission, an Indiana nonprofit group made up of citizens and media, will provide a free live broadcast feed to news organizations interested in carrying the debate.

Jones said as many as five debates are planned by the commission this year from the primary through the general election. He said the commission will continue to engage voters to submit questions for consideration in all 2012 debates.

For updates on the 2012 debates, join the Indiana Debate Commission on Facebook.

For additional information, please contact:
Max Jones, president, Indiana Debate Commission
Phone: 812-231-4336
Email: max.jones@tribstar.com

Dates and venues have not yet been selected. However, work is already underway by the board which holds its annual meeting at the end of January.

“This is an important election year and we’re not waiting until candidates have made official declarations,” said Max Jones, president of the commission and editor of the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute, Ind. “Our goal is to have as many options open as possible early in the election year.”

The commission, which hosted three gubernatorial debates in its first year of operation in 2008, has had debates in every election year for statewide races and is one of the nation’s only non-partisan standing debate groups made up of citizen groups and media.

The IDC’s website will be revised and social media will also be employed for the first time for Hoosier voters to submit questions.

“We want to expand our reach as much as possible this year,” said Jones. “With important state and federal races – and a new field of candidates for governor – we’re engaging as soon as possible.”

The commission’s past practices have included:

• Opening venues to on-site public attendance with free tickets distributed at public points of access in the general election
• Paying for satellite time so that any media outlets – including state and national – can pick up the feed
• Allowing citizens to post questions for consideration in the debate

“Our goal is essentially the same – putting voters first,” Jones said.

Venue and location review for debates will be underway within 30 days.

About the Indiana Debate Commission
The Indiana Debate Commission is a non-partisan, statewide group representing 13 citizen and media affiliates dedicated to promoting debates at the state level. The volunteer commission, which incorporated in 2007 and is organized as a 501c3, works with candidates, sponsors, venues and citizen groups to promote open, unbiased and transparent debates for Hoosier voters. For more information, visit www.indianadebatecommission.com or join the commission on Facebook.

Television and Web Production Assistance
John Cardenas, WTHR General Manager
Alan Cloe, WFYI Vice President
Shannon Cagle, WFYI Producer
Pete Kaiser, WFYI Director
Nate Pass, WFYI Engineer
Jack Tapp, WTHR Technical Services Manager
Todd Meinen, WTHR Engineer
Todd Grimes, WFWA Production Director
Jill Ballinger, WVUT Production Director
Nate Pass, WFYI Director of Engineering
David DeMunbrun, WFYI Director of Production Services
Lloyd Wright, WFYI President and CEO
Tom Carroll, Lakeshore Public Television President and CEO
Al Rerko, WVUT General Manager
Bruce Haines, WFWA General Manager
Chris Wendel, WFYI Graphic Designer
Clayton Taylor, Vice President of WFYI Production
Phil Meyer, WTIU Station Manager
Chris Bowman, WFYI Internet Projects Manager
Cedric Freeman, WFYI Engineer
Jay Ray, IHETS Manager of Media Services

Venue Assistance
Charles Bantz, IUPUI Chancellor
Jennifer Boehm, IUPUI Director of Community and Government Relations
Nancy Wright, University Place Conference Center & Hotel Director of Conference Services
Kristi Deetz, Vincennes University Director of External Relations
DeEtta Welte, Red Skelton Performing Arts Center Theater Manager
Dick Helton, Vincennes University President
Ronald Davis, Vincennes University Provost
Andrew Downs, Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics Director (IPFW)
Lisa Zerkle, Rhinehart Music Center Special Events Manager (IPFW)
Tom Wilson, Rhinehart Music Center Technical Operations Supervisor (IPFW)

Organization Assistance
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations
The Associated Press
Emmis Communications
Indiana Broadcasters Association
C-SPAN
IHETS
Indiana League of Women Voters
Reveal Consulting
Kyle Communications
Journal Gazette
The Indianapolis Star

Commissioner Assistance and On-Site Volunteers
Dennis Ryerson
Kevin Finch
Mizell Stewart III
Jon Schwantes
Anne Ryder
Bob Jackson
Terri Jett
Cathleen Shrader
Alan Cloe
Phil Meyer
Keith Robinson
Tracy Warner
Max Jones
Randy Wheeler
Michael Red
Kyle Niederpruem
Wendell Hudson
Barbara King
William Nangle
Charlie Morgan

Note: Please check local listings for accuracy.
(Stations will air the debate live unless otherwise indicated. Website links denote online coverage.)

TELEVISION
Bloomington
WTIU-TV, Channel 30

Evansville
WNIN-TV, Channel 9
WFIE-TV, Channel 14.2

Indianapolis
WFYI-TV, Channel 20
WRTV-TV, Digital Channel 6.2

Merrillville
WYIN-TV, Channel 56 (Production Partner)

Muncie
WIPB-TV, Channel 49

South Bend/Elkhart
WNIT-TV, Channel 34

Terre Haute
WTHI-TV, Channel 10, http://www.wthitv.com/

Vincennes
WVUT-TV, Channel 22 (Originating Station)

RADIO
Indianapolis
WIBC-FM, 93.1, http://www.wibc.com/

Bloomington
WFIU-FM, 103.7

Elkhart
WVPE-FM, 88.1

Evansville
WNIN-FM, 88.3
WIKY-FM, 104.1, http://www.wiky.com/

Merrillville
WLPR-FM, 89.1

Michigan City
WEFM-FM, 95.9

South Bend/Elkhart
WVPE-FM, 88.1

Vincennes
WVUB-FM, 91.1

Washington
WAMW-FM, 107.9

West Lafayette
WBAA-FM, 101.3
WBAA-AM, 920