Congressional debates

Tonight at 7 p.m., Southeast Missouri State University will host the first of four debates for Missouri's 8th Congressional District in Shuck Hall at the university's River Campus. The debate will feature Larry Bill, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Tommy Sowers and Rick Vandeven. Panelists for the debate will be Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications and Mike Smyth, vice president and general manger of KFVS12 and WQWQ-TV. The moderator will be Dr. Thomas Harte, professor emeritus of speech communications and theater at the university.

Tonight's debate will be televised live on the Heartland CW and streamed live on www.semissourian.com and www.kfvs12.com. The debate will also be carried by KRCU 90.9 FM/KSEF 88.9 FM, Southeast's National Public Radio station and its website, www.semo.edu/sepr.

There are no public tickets available for the debate. Each candidate received 25 tickets, both the College Democrats and the College Republicans received 25 tickets each and the remaining tickets are for university-invited students and guests. There will be a television set up in the atrium of the Cultural Arts Building next door to the Seminary Building for anyone who shows up without a ticket.

The four candidates will also debate at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Rolla's Missouri University of Science and Technology and Mineral Area College in Park Hills.

These are important debates that will help voters decide who should represent them in Washington, D.C.