The Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC) debate between Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett and his Democratic challenger Arizona House Rep.Chris Deschene, is scheduled for September 22 at 7 p.m. Bennett is participating in the “clean” elections program, Deschene is running traditionally.

It will be an online debate on Horizon KAET Channel 8, with the video being available online thereafter at: ww.azpbs.org/vote2010 and http://www.azcleanelections.gov/home.aspx (Clean Elections website within 72 hours).

Ken Bennett was appointed to this position after Jan Brewer (then Secretary of State) assumed her appointed position as Governor in January, 2009. He was born in Tucson, raised in Prescott, attended Yavapai College and graduated from ASU (accounting degree). He served on the Prescott City Council, then 4 terms in the State Senate from LD 1 (and was President of the Senate for four years). His campaign website is www.bennettarizona.com.

Because Kennett was not elected to this Secretary of State position (like the Lt. Governor in some states, to succeed the Governor), elected Attorney General Terry Goddard is the next in line to the Governor, until the next election on November 2, 2010.

Chris Deschene is a freshman Representative in the Arizona House (LD 2), born in California and raised near Page, Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation. He got his B.S. degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, then his M.S. degree (also in Mechanical Engineering) concurrent with a law degree from ASU. He served for 10 years in the U.S.Marine Corps (rank of Major), and now has his own law practice. See www.descheneforarizona.com.

Watch this debate and others between these two men and vote wisely on Nov. 2nd as this is the person that assumes the Governorship should the Governor leave the office for any reason (even when temporarily out of state).

The KUAT Channel 6 debate in Tucson between these 2 candidates was held on September 17 and can be viewed by clicking here.

Secretary of State Ken Bennett

Chris Deschene