KET Schedules Candidate Debates, Beshear Agrees to One of Two Appearances

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has agreed to participate in one of two planned televised forums with his opponents in the November Election.Beshear faces Republican state Senate President David Williams and independent Gatewood Galbraith. The incumbent Democrat has a significant lead in the polls and has declined to attend several forums with his rivals, citing various scheduling concerns.Williams has criticized Beshear for not facing the voters of Kentucky. The two appeared together for the first time in the general election at a Kentucky Farm Bureau forum in July. They also both spoke at the annual Fancy Farm picnic last month. Beshear will participate in a forum sponsored by the Kentucky Broadcasters Association and the League of Women Voters, but has declined to appear at an AARP-sponsored event with Williams.Beshear, Williams and Galbraith will appear together on KET's Kentucky Tonight on October 31 for a general discussion. Beshear will not attend a similar broadcast focused on education scheduled for September 26. That show will feature only Williams and Galbraith.All of the other candidates for statewide office have committed to appear on KET with their opponents in the coming weeks. The full schedule:September 5, 2011: Commissioner of AgricultureJames R. Comer, Republican PartyRobert "Bob" Farmer, Democratic PartySeptember 12, 2011: State TreasurerK.C. Crosbie, Republican PartyL.J. "Todd" Hollenbach, Democratic PartyKenneth C. Moellman Jr., Libertarian PartySeptember 19, 2011: Secretary of StateAlison Lundergan Grimes, Democratic PartyBill Johnson, Republican PartySeptember 26, 2011: Governor (Focus on Education)Steven L. Beshear, Democratic Party - will not attendGatewood Galbraith, independentDavid L. Williams, Republican PartyOctober 10, 2011: Auditor of Public AccountsAdam H. Edelen, Democratic PartyJohn T. Kemper III, Republican PartyOctober 17, 2011: Attorney GeneralJack Conway, Democratic PartyTodd P'Pool, Republican PartyOctober 24, 2011: Lieutenant GovernorJerry E. Abramson, Democratic PartyRichie Farmer, Republican PartyDea Riley, independentOctober 31, 2011: GovernorSteven L. Beshear, Democratic PartyGatewood Galbraith, independentDavid L. Williams, Republican Party