Candidates for Secretary of State and Auditor of Accounts Face Off in the Down-Ticket Downtown Debates

What: Down-Ticket Downtown Debates, sponsored by Channel 17, Common Good Vermont and Seven Days
When: Thursday, October 7, 2010; starts at 6 p.m.
Where: Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall
Admission: Free
How to Watch: Be a part of the audience. If you can’t attend, catch the debates on Channel 17 and on other public-access stations throughout the state. A live video stream and live blog of the event will be available on sevendaysvt.com.

The spotlight is on gubernatorial candidates Brian Dubie and Peter Shumlin this election season, but the less publicized “down-ticket” races are just as competitive. On Thursday, October 7, Seven Days, Channel 17 and Common Good Vermont present the “Down-Ticket, Downtown Debates,” featuring candidates for two statewide offices: secretary of state and auditor of accounts. The action starts at 6 p.m. at Burlington City Hall.

Who will replace longtime Secretary of State Deb Markowitz as the next watchdog of Vermont’s democracy? Democrat Jim Condos supports instant runoff voting and same-day voter registration; his opponent, Republican Jason Gibbs, does not. Both men threw plenty of punches in the primary. See them go head-to-head-to-head, with Liberty Union candidate Leslie Marmorale, at 6 p.m. Seven Days political columnist Shay Totten will moderate the secretary of state debate.

The auditor’s race features incumbent Tom Salmon, an Iraq War veteran who has made plenty of news since his last election: for changing political parties, from Democrat to Republican, and for a drunk-driving charge he picked up after a night out with some of his staff. Salmon faces policy analyst and first-time candidate Doug Hoffer, a Democrat who beat former auditor Ed Flanagan in the primary. Salmon, Hoffer and Liberty Union candidate Jerry Levy take the stage at 7 p.m. Seven Days staff writer Ken Picard will moderate the auditor debate.