Stewart, Ghorbani to face off in debate hosted by Utah Debate Commission, Dixie State University

Composite photo. | Photos courtesy of Dixie State University, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The Utah Debate Commission and the Dixie State University Institute of Politics are partnering to host Utah’s 2nd Congressional District Debate in advance of the Nov. 6 general election.

The televised debate will take place Sept. 17 in the Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center on the DSU campus and will offer incumbent Chris Stewart (R) and challenger Shireen Ghorbani (D) the opportunity to answer questions about a variety of issues, including some that will be provided by audience members. Debate tickets are free but required for admittance.

“Debates matter,” Henrie Walton, director of the DSU Institute of Politics, said. “This is an opportunity for Ms. Ghorbani and Congressman Stewart to convince Southern Utahns why they deserve their vote.”

The 2nd Congressional District covers portions of western Utah, including Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, Sevier, Tooele, Washington and Wayne counties and parts of Davis, Juab, Salt Lake, and Sanpete counties.

The Utah Debate Commission is a consortium of higher educational institutions, media organizations, and business and civic leaders dedicated to creating a nonpartisan and independent system of debates for statewide and federal offices in Utah during each election cycle.

The commission educates voters about viable candidates and their issue positions, promotes a civil exchange of ideas among the leading candidates and elevates the discussion of the most important issues confronting the state of Utah.

Dixie State’s Institute of Politics was established in 2016 and serves the community as a hub for civic engagement, student leadership and public policy education and research.

Tickets to the Sept. 17 debate can be reserved in advance at the Utah Debate Commission website and picked up at the event one hour prior to the debate, which starts at 6 p.m. Remaining tickets will be available at the door at 5 p.m. and distributed on a first come, first served basis. Audience members should be in their seats by 5:45 p.m. Questions can be submitted on the commission’s website.

Event details

  • What: Utah’s 2nd Congressional District Debate.
  • When: Monday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m.
  • Where: Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center on the Dixie State University campus.
  • Tickets are free but required for attendance. Tickets can be reserved in advance at the Utah Debate Commission website.

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Twitter: @STGnews

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8 Comments

  • PogoStik September 10, 2018 at 3:59 pm

    Should be interesting. So far, Rep Stuart seems to always be on opposite side of issues that pertain to the day-to-day life and well-being of my middle-class family living here in southern Utah. It’s no longer about Republican vs. Democrat, or Liberal vs. Conservative. It’s about does my Rep care about my average family and well being, or just the wealthy 1% donors?

    • Red2Blue310 September 10, 2018 at 8:28 pm

      Stewart is on the corporate payroll of big government contractors for DOD, so hes not m7ch interested in rural ideals.

  • Kilroywashere September 10, 2018 at 6:26 pm

    Republican pro desert tortoise coalition of 1 representing the many WILL BE THERE. And the tortoises have a question in mind. And although I will likely vote along party lines, I believe the Republicans will lose the House anyway in the midterms, so I am going to keep an open mind.

    • PogoStik September 11, 2018 at 2:30 pm

      Are you counting on Social Security and Medicare coverage when you retire? You might want to rethink the vote party line thing if you are. For some reason certain Reps are actively trying to eliminate or greatly reduce these retirement benefits which most of us have paid into all our lives. If Social Security is diminished or eliminated, how many of you family, friends, and neighbors would be adversely affected? I’m not advocating one party over the other. There are good and bad on both sides. You have to determine which candidate will benefit your family group best and vote for them. Otherwise, many of us will be living out there with the tortoises watching the super-rich drive by in their Mercedes.

      • mesaman September 11, 2018 at 4:46 pm

        Pogo, your post was most vague and cloudy. Suggesting that “some” Reps (not named) are actively trying to eliminate or greatly reduce these retirement benefits (no cited source). Could be one or two unamed representatives were a) overheard b) mentioned to a friend c) misunderstood by a member of the liberal socialist clan d) mentioned to bolster an otherwise gimpy argument e) a complaint, it’s origin with the person complaining. As if we were all backward, uneducated, uncivilized bumpkins you then proceed to tell us a few “could be”, “perhaps”, or almost, just about, nearly statements ending with the typical socialist slam; “de po sittin an watchin de super duper rich folk ride by in limos”. How utterly gauche you are.

        • PogoStik September 11, 2018 at 5:17 pm

          MesaMan,
          Sorry for the confusion, and sorry you took offense to my comments. I take no sides, neither Party, nor either Conservative or Liberal. I only take the position of a Utah family man concerned about working families.

          When I wrote “Rep” I meant Representative, not Republican. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has stated numerous times that ever since his college days he has dreamed of eliminating Social Security. He and Sen Mitch McConnell as well as some Democrats see reducing or eliminating Social Security as a way of reducing the national debt, and are planning to take action after the election. Don’t take my word. Just Google “Paul Ryan Social Security” and you’ll find many sources.

          You never answered my main question. Are you counting on Social Security when you retire, or are you one of those rich people who have too much money, and drive by us bumpkins (as you say) in your Mercedes.

          • mesaman September 12, 2018 at 10:55 pm

            I am counting on Social Security and have done so for 18 years. Even if I was rich that would be none of your business and even if I was poor that would be none of your business. And yes, I drive a Mercedes. As for your argument; so what Paul Ryan is one representative, are there others who oppose him? Social Security is a major issue; for one thing, too many of us are living an extra 12.5 years longer than was anticipated under the democrat president, long ago. And for another thing SS has been used to underwrite and support far too many programs other than SS. Whose fault? Not worth going back to find fault, presently we can reduce these other programs, but alas that would detract from the socialist movement of the decade.

  • Redbud September 13, 2018 at 5:49 am

    All I can say is thank goodness Trump is our President right now! Also… I have a legit question, is Shireen Ghorbani a man or a woman?

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