Editor’s note: Only credentialed reporters and photographers will be allowed to enter this event. Requests for credentials must be made by 5 p.m. Oct. 13. For more information, contact Tom Hutton, (719) 255-3439.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Three Colorado Springs newspapers will join with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs to host an Oct. 15 debate between Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and his Republican challenger, former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez.
The Gazette, the Colorado Springs Independent and the Colorado Springs Business Journal will join UCCS to host the 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. debate at the Gallogly Events Center on the UCCS campus, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway. Don Ward, news anchor, KKTV 11 News, will serve as moderator.
The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and tickets will be required. Tickets will be distributed by the publications, the gubernatorial campaigns, Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado College, and UCCS beginning Oct. 8.
Individuals with tickets should arrive on campus by 6:30 p.m. All ticket holders must be at the Gallogly Events Center by 7:10 p.m. Those arriving after 7:10 p.m. will be admitted on a first-come basis. A campus map is available at http://www.uccs.edu/map. The Gallogly Events Center is abbreviated “GEC” and is north of the University Center.
No large bags (purses or backpacks) or campaign signs will be allowed at the event. Those with signs will be directed to a public forum space near the mountain lion statue on the ground level of the University Center. Additionally, those who attend are asked to stay for the duration of the debate. No re-entry to the event will be allowed. Parking will be free to ticket holders.
“All three newspapers worked together to bring this debate to Colorado Springs because we know the value we bring to inspire the conversation on important community issues,” Dan Steever, publisher, The Gazette, said.
John Weiss, publisher, The Independent, and board chairman, the Colorado Springs Business Journal, said: “While we compete fiercely with the Gazette for both stories and advertisers, we are pleased to have joined forces to bring a fair, spirited and much needed discussion to Colorado Springs.”
Candidates will be questioned by representatives from all three sponsoring newspapers, the UCCS student newspaper, audience members, and from a list of questions submitted by readers of the newspapers via social media. In an effort to facilitate a fair and spirited debate, the candidates will also have the opportunity to question one another.
“It is important for citizens of Colorado’s second largest metro area to hear directly from candidates seeking their votes,” Steever said.
The debate will air live on MyKKTV Channel 11.2 (Comcast Channel 41, Century Link Prism Channel 10). It will also be streamed and available for replay on www.kktv.com, www.gazette.com and www.csindy.com. KKTV will rebroadcast the debate until polls close on Nov. 2.
About the Sponsors
The Gazette is southern Colorado’s No. 1 source of news and information. A two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Gazette readers access unique reporting and useful information through a daily newspaper, Gazette.com, mobile and tablet apps, and a host of custom publications. The Gazette has a combined print and Internet reach of more than 267,000.
The award-winning Colorado Springs Independent is the Pikes Peak region’s largest locally owned newspaper, with 142,000 regular readers. It’s available for free at more than 950 locations around town after 6 a.m. every Wednesday or online every day at www.csindy.com.
For more than a quarter-century, the Colorado Springs Business Journal has been the authoritative presence in the region’s business community. Published weekly and mailed to subscribers, CSBJ has won multiple awards at the state level and beyond, highlighted by the 2013 editorial sweepstakes honor for its class from the Colorado Press Association. Visit www.CSBJ.com.
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs, is one of the fastest growing universities in Colorado. The University offers 37 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s and five doctoral degrees. UCCS enrolls more than 11,000 students on campus annually and another 2,000 in online programs. For more information, visit www.uccs.edu.