Founding Organizations

The following organizations were instrumental in founding the Indiana Debate Commission:

  • Indiana Coalition of Open Government
  • Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors
  • Indianapolis Association of Black Journalists
  • Indiana Associated Press Broadcasters Association
  • Marion County Alliance of Neighborhood Associations
  • Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations
  • Indiana Broadcasters Foundation
  • Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
  • League of Women Voters of Indiana
  • The Radio-Television News Directors Association
  • Hoosier State Press Association

Indiana Debate Commission Facts and Figures

  • Founded in 2007 as a 501c3 nonprofit
  • Hosted its first gubernatorial debates with three candidates in 2008
  • Remains the longest serving, independent and non-partisan commission of its kind in the nation
  • Receives all debate questions from the public at large – Putting Voters First
  • Hosts all gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates who attain statewide ballot access
  • Provides free audio/video feed to C-SPAN, Indiana newspapers, radio stations, TV stations (public and commercial), and nonprofit news outlets
  • Relies on in-kind and charitable contributions
  • Conducted 24 debates since 2008 for gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races
  • Distributed free tickets to live audiences at 14 public venues, including high schools and colleges

The Indiana Debate Commission is one of only four state-level debate commissions in the United States. We believe Indiana voters make the difference in all statewide elections – and we exist for the voters.

Media can contact us via media (at) indianadebatecommission (dot) com

Indiana Debate Commission Board

Scott Uecker
IDC Treasurer (for donations)
Retired UIndy
Franklin

Shannon Cagle Dawson
Communications Director
Herron Classical Schools
Indianapolis

Gerry Lanosga
Director of Journalism
Indiana University
Bloomington

Jill Bond
News Director
Herald-Times
Bloomington

Laura Merrifield Wilson
Associate Professor of Political Science
UIndy
Indianapolis

Cathleen Shrader
IDC Vice President
Attorney
Barrett & McNagny, LLP
Fort Wayne

Elizabeth Bennion
Chancellor’s Professor of Political Science
Indiana University
South Bend

Andy Downs
President
Andrew Downs Consulting
Fort Wayne

Thomas Maloney
VP of Radio Operations
Lakeshore Public Media
Crown Point

Thomas Weber
Owner/President
Weber Broadcast Services
Greenwood

W.S. (Bill) Wilson
Retired Executive Editor
The Rochester Sentinel
Rochester

Cindi Andrews
IDC Secretary
Senior News Director
IndyStar
Indianapolis

Dan Byron
Senior Partner
Dentons
Indianapolis

Max Jones
Editor
Tribune-Star
Terre Haute

Mike Wilson
PR Director
Comcast Indiana
Fort Wayne