617 N. Ross Street

                                                                                                                        Boise, ID 83702

March 26, 2008

Dear Candidate:

The League of Women Voters, Idaho Press Club, and Idaho Public Television will again be co-sponsoring debates to be broadcast on Idaho Public Television for candidates for Congress and the Senate in the 2008 Primary Election.   The purpose of the debates is to inform the public on the views of the candidates.  We do not support or oppose political parties or candidates. 

We have established criteria for participation, following the U. S. Supreme Court decision Arkansas Public Television Commission v. Ralph P. Forbes, (96-779).  This decision allows us to establish reasonable, viewpoint-neutral criteria for candidate participation, and to limit debate participation to candidates who are conducting active campaigns. 

We are asking candidates in primary races to submit materials showing that they are conducting active campaigns for office.   We will issues invitations to debate to those candidates who meet the criteria for an active campaign. 

Candidates who have won any primary or general election contest for an Idaho statewide or congressional district election will be considered to be waging an active campaign.  “Winning” a Primary Election unopposed does not qualify.   Candidates who have not won such an election will be required to show us that they meet the following criteria for primary election consideration.

The criteria for primary election consideration:

• The name, phone number, cellular telephone number, e-mail address and mailing address of the campaign manager and names of any campaign staff, paid or volunteer.   Three to five names is sufficient.

• Evidence of widely distributed campaign literature, and samples of the literature.  

• Evidence of at least two (2) campaign appearances, one of which is at least 200 miles from another AND both of which were open to the general public.  The appearances may be coffees, picnics, or speeches at public gatherings. Provide the name and phone number of the local sponsor or a newspaper clipping to verify the event. Invitations to other television or radio programs or debates or editorial meetings do not qualify.

• Any additional evidence of an active campaign.

In addition, Idaho Public Television would like for you to submit a color head shot, either a 3x5 photograph or a color JPEG digital picture (300 dpi minimum) for their elections/debate website, and your campaign mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address, cell phone and fax numbers

Please mail or hand deliver your submission to the attention of Jim Peck, Idaho Public Television, 1455 North Orchard, Boise, ID 83706. The material must be at Idaho Public Television no later than 4:45 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2008.  If you hand deliver your material, please ask for a time stamped receipt.

The committee will decide whether or not to invite you to participate in the televised debate based upon the material you submit.  The more evidence of an active campaign you present, the more likely you are to be included. The sponsors consider failure to submit any material at all as a refusal to debate. Candidates who qualify for the primary election debates and who go onto the general election are automatically qualified for the general election debates.

We are happy to help make this process as easy as possible.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at  208-343-8018 or e-mail echehey@cableone.net  or contact Jim Peck at Idaho Public Television.  His e-mail address debates@idahoptv.org   and his phone number is (208) 373-7220

Once the committee has made its determinations, I will mail out invitations with the dates and the debate format.  You can expect to receive an invitation or letter of disqualification by April 14, 2008.

The proposed schedule for debates is as follows:

Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. MT/PT  Second District Democrats

Thursday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT First District Democrats

Friday, May 16 at 9:30 p.m.  Supreme Court Candidates (taped earlier in the day)

Sunday, May 18 at 5:00 p.m.MT/4:00 p.m. PT  Second District Republicans

Sunday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. MT/PT First District Republicans

Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. MT/PT U. S. Senate Democrats

Thursday, May 22 at 8:00 p.m. MT/7:00 p.m. PT

We would like for candidates to be at the studio one hour before their debate starts.   Candidates may invite a limited number of guests to watch the debate in the studio.  Number of guests will be very limited for the Republican Senate debate.

Best wishes on your campaign.  We look forward to seeing your submission.

Sincerely,

Elinor Chehey, Debates Coordinator,

League of Women Voters of Idaho