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CLOUDY Temp: 54 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, October 3, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 25, 2002 Medford TV station to air Oregon governor debate By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune Walls are being painted, corners cleaned out and equipment dusted off at Southern Oregon Public Television as employees prepare for the state’s only gubernatorial debate south of Eugene. "The next governor will be here and we want to put the best face forward," said Margaret Graham, the station’s viewer services manager. "We’re small but we’re good and we want to look like it." Southern Oregon Public Television, broadcast on KSYS Channel 8, will air the formal 90-minute debate at 9 p.m. Monday Oct. 21. Republican candidate Kevin Mannix, Democratic candidate Ted Kulongoski and Libertarian candidate Tom Cox will participate. The debate will be hosted by the League of Women Voters, Ashland and Rogue Valley chapters. Ruth Walsh, voter service chairwoman for the Ashland league said that the last gubernatorial debate they hosted in 1998 garnered a lot of interest. "I thought the last one was helpful and this one will be even more so," Walsh said. "I don’t think, the voters know these candidates very well yet ... this will help us get to know them a little bit better." She noted that having local newspeople on the panel asking the candidates questions will focus the debate on Southern Oregon issues. The panel will include Bob Hunter, editor of the Mail Tribune; Patsy Smullin, owner of KOBI Channel 5 and president of California Oregon Broadcasting Inc.; Brad Cain, an Associated Press writer in Salem; and Jeff Mapes, a reporter for the Oregonian. Greg Frederick, director of production at Southern Oregon Public Television said they are "thrilled" to be able to produce and broadcast the debate again this year. Not only will it be broadcast locally, but also statewide. Additionally, the debate is likely to be rebroadcast on KOBI and streamed over the Internet. It’s taken about a year to pull this off, Frederick said. The tasks necessary included making contacts, trying to guess the winner in the primary, and then swooping in and trying to get the candidates to agree to a date. "I’m not he only one bidding for their time," Frederick said. "Scheduling is always a concern and depending on how a race is running — which candidate doesn’t think they need the exposure — getting them all three to agree on a single date ... is a challenge." But now that it’s pinned down, it’s time to spruce up, Frederick said. Workers are rebuilding their sets to accommodate the candidates and the media who will cover the event. When Oct. 21 finally rolls around, everything will be spic and span and impressive, Graham said. "We’re a small station, one of the smallest in the (PBS) system across the country," said Graham. "It’s not often a small place like us gets such big names in the door." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S