PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, August 30, 2017
CONTACT: Chase Thomas | Alliance for a Better Utah
chase@betterutah.org
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DEBATE ANNOUNCED FOR THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION
UofU’s John R. Park Debate Society & ABU Education Fund Partner for Upcoming Debate
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Salt Lake City, UT – The ABU Education Fund and the University of Utah’s John R. Park Debate Society have announced they will host a debate for the upcoming special election in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District.
“We are excited to once again be partnering with the Debate Society to hold a debate for this historic special election,” said Josh Kanter, board chair for the ABU Education Fund. “It is vital that voters have as many opportunities as possible to make an informed decision before voting to send someone to be their representative in Congress. This debate will serve an invaluable role in supplying that information to constituents in the 3rd District.”
The ABU Education Fund and the John R. Park Debate Society have a history of co-hosting debates. Every two years, they partner for a series of state legislative debates, holding three such debates last year, in addition to a debate between two candidates running for a spot on the Utah State Board of Education.
As coordinator of logistics for the debate, the ABU Education Fund is working with the campaigns to finalize the debate location and date. With the Utah Debate Commission expected to hold its debate in Utah County, the expectation is that this debate will be held in the Salt Lake County portion of the district, an area covering over 100,000 registered voters.
Invitations to participate in the debate have been sent out to all campaigns, all of whom have accepted the invitation. According to the rules set by the Debate Society, the top-four polling candidates will qualify for a spot on the debate stage, ensuring participation from third-party candidates.
“During last year’s legislative debate series, a constituent told us she ‘came with an open mind and left with a yard sign,’” continued Kanter. “Our hope is this debate will serve that same purpose, allowing people to be more engaged in the democratic process.”
More information will be released once it is available.
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The ABU Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing a strong, educational voice by creating resources that advance civic engagement and good governance. For more information, visit their website here.
The John R. Park Debate Society is the University of Utah’s national championship-winning competitive speech and debate program. Their programming includes regular issue forums and other community engagement. The Debate Society, founded in 1869, is the University of Utah’s oldest student organization. For more information, visit their website here.