Correction: This letter to The Public Forum incorrectly states the time of Tuesday’s presidential debate. It is at 7 p.m. MT. The Utah gubernatorial debate runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the same evening.
The Utah Debate Commission has scheduled the only debate between Spencer Cox and Chris Peterson, candidates for governor of our state, at the same time and on the same day, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. MST, as the first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
In what universe does a responsible, nonpartisan body do this?
We Utahns should have the right to watch both Cox and Spencer, and Trump and Biden live.
Please support Utah residents in pursuing responsible voter preparation for choosing leaders at both state and national levels. It is a travesty that the gubernatorial debate is going to be sidelined or to presume that the debate for the next governor of Utah is a less important dialogue. The election has not yet been held. This scheduling decision suggests that this critical dialogue for the next leader of our state does not matter.
We citizens of this state implore the Utah Debate Commission to rethink the schedule and find another time and date for the Cox and Peterson debate that does not conflict with the first 2020 presidential debate.
Paula Ashcraft, Nancy M. Donnolly-Davis, Sarah Rose, Naomi Silverstone, C.J. Wolfe, Sherry Lynn Zemlick, Salt Lake City
Susan Ann Stauffer, Ivins