Grimes, Johnson to Face Off During KET Debate

The candidates for secretary of state will meet for a debate on Kentucky Education Television Monday night.Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes and Republican Bill Johnson are expected to discuss a variety of issues, including voting rights and business filings in the commonwealth. The two have sparred over whether homeless people should be allowed to register to vote, but the debate is expected to reach into other issues as well.Grimes says she hopes the debate will be defined by their different views on voting rights and how to address the poor economy facing citizens."As Kentuckians have watched what are leaders have been doing in Washington I think now more than ever they are tired of the empty sound bites. They are tired of the scare tactics. They want, they need and deserve to have leaders that have sound solutions," she says.Johnson agrees the issues should be at the forefront of the discussion, which he says will contrast him and Grimes, and give voters a clear choice this November.“Talking about whether or not you need to have an address to register to vote is an important issue. Picture ID at the polls is an important issue. Whether or not we should have automatic restoration of voting rights for felons is an important issue," he says. "My opponent and I have differing views on this. So I think the debate will be good to help the voters understand where my opponent stands and where I stand."The two are vying to succeed incumbent Elaine Walker, who was appointed by the governor earlier this year but was defeated by Grimes in the May Democratic primary.Grimes and Johnson will face off at 8/7 p.m., KET has already hosted the candidates for state treasurer and agriculture commissioner.