24 Hour News 8 to host gov debates

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - With the filing deadline this week, 24 Hour News 8 continues its commitment to Decision 2010 by helping you decide who should be Michigan's next governor.

We will be hosting a debate with four of the five Republican gubernatorial candidates at Grand Valley State University's downtown Grand Rapids campus on June 24. The debate will be held at the DeVos-Loosemore Auditorium and be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on WOOD TV8. 24 Hour News 8 Political Reporter Rick Albin, and host of "To The Point," will serve as moderator.

You will be able to submit questions ahead of time and get questions answered in real time during the debate.

The candidates expected to participate are Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Sen. Tom George and Congressman Pete Hoekstra.

The fifth gubernatorial candidate is former Gateway CEO Rick Snyder. Campaign spokesman Jake Suski says Snyder agreed to take part in two of the four party-hosted debates this year. Snyder already attended one in April and had planned to be at a debate later this month that was canceled.

Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University is the site of another GOP debate on July 13, which will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. on WDIV in Detroit.

24 Hour News 8 is working on putting together a debate for the Democratic candidates as well. Speaker of the House Andy Dillon and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero are the Democratic candidates running for governor.