Toole challenges Taylor to debates

To Mike Taylor,

Congratulations on your victory in the Republican primary for the Public Service Commission District 5 seat. I look forward to a vigorous issue-based campaign.

I am writing because I would like to propose that we conduct a series of debates in the race for this seat. I strongly believe that the public is best served by campaigns that allow people to hear the differences between the candidates and make their decisions based on the issues. There is no better way to get into the issues than a debate.

I think it is particularly important that we take this campaign into the smaller towns in the district. I specifically propose that we do a series of at least seven debates in Choteau, Conrad, Browning (or Cut Bank) Ronan, Polson, Kalispell and Helena.

I also propose two broadcast debates, one on KOFI with Wendy Ostrom Price and one on Berg in the Morning. As an opponent of deregulation, I debated the issue with the Republican Party Chairman, Ken Miller, on both of these programs a number of years ago. Numerous people told me they thought the debate gave them a good understanding of the differences we had on deregulation. I think they would probably be interested in hosting such an event again.

Of course, I think it is best to do the debates in the fall, so we have plenty of time to work out a mutually agreeable schedule and format. My preference would be that we ask either media people or educators to serve as moderators. I look forward to your response.

Senator Ken Toole, Democrat-Helena, is the Democrat candidate for the Public Service Commission's District 5 seat.