3 Candidate Debates Scheduled for Tonight

The 2012 campaign for Attleboro and Seekonk's state legislative seats has includes lots of arguing about having debates—how many  and whether they will even take place. But the debate on debates is over and the public will have the opportunity to see the candidates spar on the stage tonight at Attleboro High School.

Hosted by The Sun Chronicle  and the United Regional Chamber of Commerce , the event will begin at 7 p.m. and include the candidates for the House's 2nd Bristol District (Republican incumbent George Ross and Democratic challenger Paul Heroux) and the Senate's Bristol and Norfolk District (Democratic incumbent James Timilty and Republican challenger Jeff Bailey).

First to take the stage for a one-hour debate will be the Senate candidates. Timilty is an eight-year incumbent representing the district that includes Attleboro and Seekonk as well as several other communities. Bailey, the senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church and founder of the church's K-12 school, is running for political office for the first time.

Immediately following the Senate debate, the state House candidates will take the stage for an hour. Ross has served one term representing the district, which includes most of Attleboro. He also spent a dozen years on the City Council. Heroux, a public policy and administration consultant who grew up in Attleboro, is running for office for the first time.

The candidates running for the House's 4th Bristol District, which includes Seekonk and several other communities, will also meet in a debate tonight. It will take place at the local television studio in Norton. That event is not open to the public, but Patch will provide coverage.