2 Debates Scheduled for State Rep. Candidates

Democratic state House of Representatives hopeful A. Keith Carreiro was unable to get Republican incumbent Steven Howitt to accept a challenge for seven debates, but the two have agreed to spar on stage two times before Election Day.

The Carreiro campaign issued a press release early Monday morning announcing debates will take place Thursday in Norton and next Monday in Taunton for the two candidates running for the seat of the 4th Bristol District, which includes Seekonk. The Howitt campaign confirmed the information was accurate.

The debate on Thursday is sponsored by Norton Community Television and will be moderated by Town Moderator Bill Gouveia in the studio. It will not be televised live, but will be broadcast several times on television in Norton. There will be no live audience due to space limitations.

The debate scheduled for next Monday will take place at 1 p.m. at the The Herald News headquarters in Fall River. The event is sponsored by The Herald News and the Taunton Daily Gazette. It will be moderated by Aaron Frechette, editorial page editor for The Herald News.

It was not specified in Carreiro's press release whether the second debate will be open to the public and/or all media.