Inslee, Bryant agree to Spokane debate

Washington’s general election candidates for governor will debate in Spokane in August, shortly after they are selected in the August primary.

Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat running for re-election, and Seattle Port District Commissioner Bill Bryant, who is the leading GOP candidate, agreed to a debate on Aug. 17 jointly sponsored by the Association of Washington Business, Greater Spokane Inc., and the Community Colleges of Spokane.

The association has hosted gubernatorial debates in every election since 1992 and Inslee debated Republican Rob McKenna in Spokane in 2012. On Tuesday, AWB and GSI hosted a lieutenant governor’s debate in Spokane that featured eight of the 11 primary candidates for that office.

A location for the debate hasn’t been chosen but it will be broadcast on KHQ-TV, Jason Hagey of AWB said.