POLITICS

UF plans to host governor’s debate on Sept. 29

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Hope is an elusive thing called a gubernatorial debate.
Florida Blue Key and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service have tried for years to land a
gubernatorial debate at the University of Florida. This year, they believe their chances are
strong.
Florida Blue Key and the Graham Center have forged a partnership with Fox News Stations
WOFL in Orlando, WTVT in Tampa and WOGX in Gainesville to host a debate at UF on Sept. 29th.

The Florida Law Review is also involved in the partnership. A venue hasn’t been selected yet, said David Chauncey, co-chair of the Debate Committee and vice president of Florida Blue Key, but he said they are looking at several possibilities on campus where a debate could be held.

Florida Blue Key started the discussion with Allyson Meyers, vice president and general
manager of WOFL and WOGX, Chauncey said. The debate would be moderated by WOFL-TV
Fox 35 anchor John Brown and WTVT-TV Fox 13 anchor Mark Wilson in front of a live
audience and broadcast on all Fox affiliates in Florida.

The number of venues on UF’s campus that could accommodate TV crews and a live
audience are narrow. Possible venues are the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the
O’Connell Center and University Auditorium.

“We are certainly hopeful the debate will come to fruition,” said Shelby Taylor, digital
communications director for the Graham Center. “We are hoping for more success with the
TV stations involved up front.”

A candidate debate fits in with both the mission of leadership and public service shared by
both the Graham Center and Florida Blue Key.

The date set for the proposed debate is one month after the Aug. 26 primaries and five weeks
before the Nov. 4 general election. Incumbent Gov. Rick Scott, the presumptive Republican
nominee, has been sent an invitation, as have Democratic candidates Charlie Crist, a former
governor, and Nan Rich, a former state senator.

“We’ve been in discussions with the campaign managers and communications people,”
Chauncey said. “They’re well aware of the proposed debate.”

Florida Blue Key has tried to land a gubernatorial debate at UF for years. It last tried in 2010
to get Scott, then a novice candidate running for governor, to debate Democratic nominee
Alex Sink. Sink wanted to have five debates, including one at UF, but Scott agreed to only two
debates — one at University of South Florida and the other at Nova Southeastern University.
Scott’s campaign staff has said this year that he would only debate the Democratic nominee
in the fall, steering clear of events where he would have appeared with Crist.

“We’re going to put together the best event possible for the campaigns,” Chauncey said. “We
hope they will want to reach out to students