Hemmann & Morin Debate - Oct.27, Fri 2006

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

Reliable sources report that 12 year veteran of the Council and Board of Education Donna Hemman, Republican, has gotten a promise from Russell Morin, Democrat, Chair of the Town Council, to face off in a live debate on WCTV-14 next month.

They are opponents in a run for the District 28 State House of Representative seat (which is being vacated by Paul Doyle who is running for Billy Ciotto's State Senate seat, District 9).

I look foward to an informative debate, which will help the voters.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

I can report with a high degree of accuracy that the Hemmann - Morin Debate (between these candidates for the State House of Representatives/ Assembly seat for the 28th District, 8/10th of Wethersfield) will take place.

Very reliable sources on both "sides" confirm that negotiations are now underway to reach an agreement on all of the details of the debate parameters. I understand that Joyce Rossignol has been approached to be the moderator for the debate.

More details to come as they materialize and solidify..........

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

The Hemmann - Morin Debate

For Open State House Seat: 28th District

An unsponsored debate arranged through the collaboration of the two candidates' camps.

• Date: October 27, 2006
  
• Location: Pitkin Commumunity Center
  
• Banquet Room B1 (southern half)
  
• Doors Open: 6:30 PM
  
• Debate starts: 7:oo PM

Debate to be aired live on Wethersfield Community Television, cable channel #14, facilitated by its president Rick Garrey and his volunteers.

• Duration: few minutes short of 1 hour
  
• No admission charge
  
• Seating: ~ 100; no standing room.
  
• One quarter of the seating reserved for supporters of each camp (25 each).
  
• Remaining half of seating (50) available to others: first come, first served.
  
• No flash photography; no active cellular phones.
  
• No distractions or applause until end of debate.
  
• No questions will be fielded from the audience.
  
• Moderator shall be source of all questions and shall decide all procedural disputes.

Debate specific details:

• First to speak: determined by coin toss before start of debate.
  
• Moderator shall make opening statement: up to 2 min.
  
• Each candidate shall make an opening statement: 2 min.
  
• Moderate shall start with candidate who made first opening statement, asking a question; candidate will have just 2 timed minutes to respond.
  
• The other candidate shall have just 1 timed minute to rebut.
  
• Timer shall visually alert a speaker when only 30 seconds remain and shall announce that his/her time has expired by announcing "Time!"
  
• Moderator shall then reverse order on each successive question.
  
• Moderator may ask a follow-up question of either the questioned or rebutting candidate; each candidate shall have just one minute to respond to that follow-up question. The moderator then resumes with the pattern of original questioning.
  
• Moderator shall continue asking questions until such time is reached for closing of the active debate and allowing for closing statements.
  
• Each candidate shall be allowed just two (2) minutes for a closing statement; the candidate who presented the first opening statement shall present the last closing statement.
  
• Moderator announces the closing of the debate.

The tape of the debate is not scheduled to be aired during Wethersfield LIVE later that evening. However, it will be rebroadcasted multiple times in the days following, until Nov. 7, election day.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

The tape of the HEMMANN - MORIN DEBATE will replay on WCTV-14 (Cox Cable) at the following, remaining times:

Friday at 9 AM (THIS MORNING!)
Saturday at 8 PM,
Sunday at 11 AM,
Tuesday 7 PM