Mary Burke and Governor Scott Walker (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson, file)
Governor Scott Walker will take part in two debates with his Democratic challenger Mary Burke, but not a third one that’s also planned for mid-October.
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association says it will sponsor debates with both candidates October 10th in the Eau Claire-La Crosse region, and October 17th in Metro Milwaukee. Both of those dates are on Friday nights.
However, Walker’s camp says it will not participate in a debate on Thursday, October 16th. Burke has committed to that forum, to be held at U-W Stevens Point. It’s sponsored by Wisconsin Public Television and Radio, the Journal Sentinel, and Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV. Even though the governor is not taking part, sponsors said Burke would still get an hour on public TV that day, so voters are not penalized just because one candidate refuses to take part.
Walker and Democrat Tom Barrett debated twice in the 2012 recall election and three times in 2010.