Good afternoon and welcome to the city club of cleveland. Im christine merit, president of the Ohio Association of broadcasters and a board member of the Ohio Debate Commission. I am pleased to introduce todays forum, a conversation on the emerging role of statewide debate commissions. The Ohio Association of broadcasters is the association of local radio and television stations here in ohio and weve been involved with the Ohio Debate Commission since its inception last year with many stations around the state airing the gubernatorial and u. S. Senate debates organized by the Commission Last fall. Political debate has been an intrigual part of the american political process at all levels and yet over the last decade, debates between candidates seeking Political Office has declined. This is not for lack of effort, as community and civic groups, including the city club as well as television stations and other media organizations have organized debates only to have candidates, often incum
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