The only scheduled debate for West Virginia’s U.S. Senate candidates before the November 6th General Election will happen Tuesday night at Shepherd University in Jefferson County.
Shepherd M.B.A. Coordinator Dr. Chip Zimmer says the location is a good one.
"This is being hosted by the M.B.A. program at Shepherd University and the theme of the whole debate is business and economics," he said. "And we felt like the (Eastern) Panhandle, with respect to everyone else, but the (Eastern) Panhandle has become the economic engine of the state of West Virginia,"
Both U.S. Senator Manchin, a Democrat, and Republican John Raese, a Morgantown businessman, have confirmed their attendance.
Dr. Zimmer says Bob Henry Baber, the Mountain Party candidate, has not responded to requests for his participation.
This year’s race is a rematch for Senator Manchin and Raese who ran against each other in the 2010 Special Election for the two years left on late Senator Robert C. Byrd’s term following his death.
This year, the full six year U.S. Senate term is on the ballot.
Zimmer says he wanted Shepherd University to get involved. "The more we moved forward with it, the more excited the University community became and it all came together a few weeks ago."
Cecelia Mason with West Virginia Public Radio will be the moderator for the Shepherd debate.
The questions on Tuesday night will come from the following four panelists: Hans Fogle with MetroNews Affiliate WEPM Radio in Martinsburg, Mark Kraham with WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, Craig Bartoldson with The Journal in Martinsburg and Heather Greenfield from the Shepherd University Picket.
Dr. Zimmer says the questions will cover energy, education, the environment, jobs and health care.
The debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Shepherd University’s Reynolds Hall. It will be carried on some MetroNews Radio stations.
Raese is the owner of West Virginia Radio Corporation and the MetroNews Radio Network.