July 31, 2018 11:20 AM UTC

Polis, Stapleton To Debate--A Lot

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• by: Colorado Pols

A press release yesterday afternoon from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis announces a slew of upcoming debates and forums in which he’ll be mixing it up with Republican Walker Stapleton–including several events in which Polis’ former primary opponents will stump on his behalf:

Jared Polis today announced he will participate in 13 gubernatorial debates and forums throughout the state of Colorado and challenged his opponent Walker Stapleton to do the same.

“Voters in every community across Colorado deserve to know how we plan to address the biggest challenges facing their families — from rising expenses and flat paychecks, to the cost of health care, to the need for better funding for our public schools,” Jared Polis said. “I am excited to attend these 13 debates and forums and discuss my positive vision to fight for a Colorado where every family has the opportunity to get ahead.”

“We were disappointed to see Walker Stapleton agree to only nine debates and forums,” Polis for Colorado spokesperson Mara Sheldon said. “But it’s not surprising to see Mr. Stapleton minimizing public appearances, since he has a track record of doing that throughout the primary. At one debate he declared he had not learned anything from being caught lying repeatedly and asked industry lobbyists for ‘a lot more’ campaign contributions. We hope that Mr. Stapleton will agree to these four additional debates and forums.” [Pols emphasis]

Polis and Stapleton are set to debate in all corners of the state, from Mesa State University in Grand Junction to the Pueblo Chieftain. They’ll also debate for all three major Denver television networks and KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs. In addition, Polis plans to attend numerous chamber of commerce and other civic group forums where (presumably) both candidates will slug it out indirectly. And if that’s not enough, Polis says his three primary challengers Cary Kennedy, Mike Johnston, and Donna Lynne will all appear as surrogates at campaign events:

• Mike Johnston — Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance forum
• Donna Lynne — Club 20 debate
• Cary Kennedy will stand in for Jared at an event to be announced in the coming weeks.

Safe to say that by the end of this campaign season, the two sides will be well acquainted–and voters with both. Are you excited? Because we’re excited.