Date 01/16/02
Contact: Wanda Garner Cash, (281) 425-8000
wgcash@baytownsun.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA PARTNERS TO PRESENT STATEWIDE BROADCAST DEBATES BETWEEN TEXAS GUBERNATORIAL, SENATORIAL CANDIDATES

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will join media organizations from across the state to sponsor hour-long debates between Democratic primary candidates for both the Texas gubernatorial race and the U.S. Senatorial race.

The debates will originate from the KERA 13 studios in Dallas on Friday evening, March 1.

Debate co-sponsors include: Texas Monthly, The Dallas Morning News, the Texas Association of Broadcasters, WFAA-TV, Univision affiliate KUVN, Belo Interactive, TXCN, KERA 13 and KERA 90.1.

KERA has made contact with the two leading Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Tony Sanchez and Dan Morales. Both candidates have agreed in principal to participate in the debate, with details to be worked out later.

KERA has also made preliminary contacts with the leading Democratic U.S. Senate candidates, Ron Kirk, Ken Bentsen and Victor Morales.

Additional candidates may be invited based on established debate criteria, which include the activity level of a candidate's campaign and level of public support.

The broadcast debates will feature real-time Spanish translations and real-time closed captioning and will be delivered via satellite as a public service to all Texas media interested in broadcasting the debates.

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