In advance of the Nov. 4 General Election, the Washington County Debate Coalition is hosting five different municipal debates throughout the county during October.
“I am thrilled that we will be holding a record number of debates for many cities around Washington County,” Vince Brown, chair of the debate coalition, said. “This is one of the best ways for our citizens to engage with the candidates and make an informed decision about who will lead us into the future.”
Notably, the series of debates will include the St. George Mayoral/City Council Debate from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 13 in the Mainstage Theatre of the Eccles Fine Arts Center on the Utah Tech University campus. This debate will be broadcast statewide on PBS. Tickets to attend in person are free and must be obtained by Oct. 6 at Utah Tech’s Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Holland Centennial Commons or at utahtech.edu/ticket-office.
Other in-person debates hosted by the Washington County Debate Coalition include:
- Hurricane Mayoral and City Council Debate
Location: Hurricane Fine Arts Center - Date: Oct. 8, 5-7 p.m.
Santa Clara Debate
- Location: Santa Clara City Hall
- Date: Oct. 15, 5-7 p.m.
Washington City Council Debate
- Location: Heritage Hall
- Date: Oct. 20, 5-7 p.m.
Ivins General Election Debate
- Location: Ivins City Hall (subject to change)
- Date: Oct. 23, 5-7 p.m.
All debates are free and open to the public, thanks to the work of the Washington County Debate Coalition and its sponsors. Founded in 2021, the debate coalition is an independent, multiparty organization dedicated to hosting regular debates for candidates representing Washington County. The organization comprises political parties, including the Republican and Democratic parties, academics, media entities, civic leaders and independent groups like the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The St. George Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to fostering civic engagement at every level of government,” Shawn Christensen, president and CEO of the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “We believe an informed electorate is essential to a thriving democracy and strong business community. We’re proud to be part of the Washington County Debate Coalition and provide voters with meaningful opportunities to hear directly from candidates about the issues that matter most to our region. These debates represent our shared commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen participation in the democratic process.”
Learn more about political events taking place across Washington County and on the Utah Tech University campus at instagram.com/utahtechpolitics.