Balukoff announces debate schedule

A.J. Balukoff, the Democratic candidate for governor of Idaho, today released the schedule of the debates he’s agreed to participate in over the next month – the same four to which GOP Gov. Butch Otter earlier committed , plus one more in Twin Falls. “I look forward to these debates with Gov. Otter and the opportunity to lay out my vision for a better Idaho,” Balukoff said in a statement. “While he may try to distract the debates away from his eight year record, I intend to focus on the issues critical to moving our state forward: better schools, creating good-paying jobs, and restoring trust and accountability to state government.”

Otter already had announced he’ll debate Oct. 3 in Coeur d’Alene, in a face-off at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library sponsored by the Coeur Group; Oct. 9 in Idaho Falls at the Idaho Falls City Club debate; Oct. 14 at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa in a debate sponsored by KTVB-TV; and Oct. 30 in the “Idaho Debates,” which will be broadcast live statewide on Idaho Public Television and are co-sponsored by the Idaho Press Club and the League of Women Voters of Idaho.

Balukoff said he’ll also participate in a debate tomorrow from 7-8 p.m. at Canyon Ridge High School in Twin Falls, sponsored by the Times-News newspaper. Otter was invited to that debate, but declined the invitation. The newspaper announced that its debate will feature Balukoff and Libertarian candidate for governor John Bujak. The Times-News also is hosting a debate tonight between the two candidates for state superintendent of schools, Democrat Jana Jones and Republican Sherri Ybarra.