Kristin Lyerly, Tony Wied set to debate ahead of Wisconsin 8th Congressional District election
GREEN BAY — Republican and Democratic candidates for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District Tony Wied and Kristin Lyerly will meet Friday in the first cross-party debate the district’s 435,000 voters have seen in recent memory.
Both candidates seek to replace U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, who resigned from office in April. Voters will choose who will serve out the final weeks of Gallagher’s term and who will fill the seat for the next two years.
Here’s a preview of Friday’s debate.
Where will the debate be?
The Mauthe Center, an independent nonprofit that facilitates cross-faith and cross-political dialogue located on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s campus, will open its 250-person capacity venue to host the debate.
Its director, Robert Pyne, and Mauthe Center staff coordinated between the Lyerly and Wied campaigns this past month to confirm their participation almost a month after the end of the Aug. 13 primary.
Who will moderate and ask questions?
WBAY anchor Cami Rapson, with decades of on-air experience, will moderate by keeping candidates to time limits and directing the flow of the debate.
WBAY reporter Jason Zimmerman, who brings another two decades of journalism experience, and Jesse Lin, the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s community and politics reporter, will make up the two-person panel asking questions. They vetted two questions to be asked by students from St. Norbert College and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay during the course of the evening.
What questions will be asked?
The campaigns, the Mauthe Center director and even the moderator won’t know the questions until they are asked Friday evening.
What will the debate format and rules be?
More details about the debate’s format have been confirmed since the event was first announced.
Lyerly and Wied will participate in a coin toss before the debate. The winner will choose the order of closing statements. The loser will choose the order of opening statements.
The candidates will stand center stage at identical podiums facing the live audience and cameras. The audience must remain silent for the duration of the debate. Candidates will not be allowed to bring pre-written notes to the debate. They will be provided pen and paper by the Mauthe Center to take notes during the course of the event.
Rapson, sitting with Zimmerman and Lin to the candidates’ right, will introduce the debate rules, panelists and the candidates who will each have one minute for opening statements. A timer will be visible to both candidates and the moderator behind the live audience.
Back and forth, the panelists will lob questions to one candidate, then the other. For each question, the responding candidate will have 90 seconds to answer before the other candidate gets 90 seconds to also reply. The candidate who was originally asked the question will then have 60 seconds to rebut, followed by their opponent’s 60-second retort. Finally, 15 seconds will be given to the candidate originally asked the question to have the final word.
Rapson will transition to a two-minute break halfway through when candidates must remain on the stage. They may ask their campaigns for personal needs but may not consult their team on debate topics.
Each candidate will have one minute for closing remarks before Rapson ends the program. The live audience is encouraged to interact with the candidates afterward.
Can I attend in-person?
Yes, those interested in being part of the live audience may RSVP on the Mauthe Center website by going to its “Events” tab, clicking on “Upcoming Events,” and submitting their name and email.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., one hour before the debate begins.
How can I watch the debate?
WBAY will air the event live from 7 to 8 p.m. It will also be available for viewing on WBAY’s website.
