SEATTLE — The Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum are among the news agencies that have joined the Washington State Debate Coalition.
Seattle CityClub announced the creation of the coalition Thursday.
“We know a healthy democracy and a strong community depend on active, informed and interested citizens,” said Diane Douglas, executive director of Seattle CityClub.
“We founded the Washington State Debate Coalition to ensure Washingtonians have access to those seeking some of the highest offices in our country.”
The coalition — made up of civic leaders, nonpartisan organizations and news agencies — plans to host free, nonpartisan, publicly accessible debates for gubernatorial and senatorial contests this fall.
“Enhancing citizens’ access to leaders and citizen empowerment are core to Seattle CityClub’s mission and purpose. Founding the Washington State Debate Coalition is an exciting new chapter in our history as a nonpartisan convener,” Douglas said.
The coalition was inspired by the work of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the Indiana Debate Commission, “but it is unique in its breadth of membership and working partnerships between civic and media organizations,” said Justo Gonzalez, Seattle CityClub board president.
Civic leaders who are members of the coalition include former 6th Congressional District Rep. Norm Dicks, former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, former governors Christine Gregoire and Gary Locke — who also served as the U.S. ambassador to China from 2011-14 — former Washington secretaries of state Ralph Munro and Sam Reed, and Bill Ruckelshaus, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General and director of the Environmental Protection Agency, who now chairs the Advisory Board of the
William D. Ruckelshaus Center among other organizations.
Nonpartisan organizations that are members include Bellingham City Club, City Club of Tacoma, Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Seattle CityClub, Seattle Rotary IV, Slade Gorton International Policy Center and Seattle Public Library
Many colleges and universities are members, as well as a myriad news organizations, including Sound Publishing newspapers throughout the state.
More information about the coalition is available at seattlecityclub.org/wastatedebatecoalition.
