Kristin Lyerly, Tony Wied finalize format for their 8th Congressional District debate

GREEN BAY — Democratic 8th Congressional District candidate Kristin Lyerly and Republican candidate Tony Wied’s campaigns agreed Wednesday evening to the format, rules and moderators for their sole scheduled debate.

The confirmation of the debate’s format comes one day after both campaigns agreed that the event would be held at the Mauthe Center, housed within the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s campus, on Sept. 27.

Both candidates will have the chance to make their case to constituents in northeast Wisconsin formerly represented by U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, who vacated his seat in April.

Here’s what you need to know.

How long will the Lyerly-Wied debate be?

The debate will run from 7 to 8 p.m. with a two minute break halfway through.

Where will it take place?

The Mauthe Center, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating dialogue across religious and political boundaries.

The center is situated on UW-Green Bay’s campus; however, its funding and management are unaffiliated with the university.

WBAY will broadcast the debate live.

Who is the moderator?

Cami Rapson, who has been a WBAY news anchor since 1991, will moderate the debate.

Who will ask questions?

Jason Zimmerman, political reporter for WBAY and veteran news anchor, and Jesse Lin, community and politics reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, will form a two-person panel that asks questions to both Lyerly and Wied.

Students from St. Norbert College and UWGB will also have the opportunity to ask their questions to the candidates. The panelists will vet student questions before the debate, and one student from each college will read their question in the course of the hour.

How long will candidates have to speak?

Both Lyerly and Wied will have two minutes for opening and closing statements. The order for both will be determined by a coin toss ahead of the debate.

Once a candidate is asked a question, they will have 90 seconds to respond. Afterward, the other candidate will have 90 seconds to comment.

The candidate who was initially asked the question can follow with a 60-second reply, after which the other candidate gets the same amount of time to rebut.

Finally, the candidate to which the question was originally asked will have 15 seconds to have the last word before moving onto the next question.

Will there be a live audience?

Yes, a live audience will be present at the debate.

They will be asked to refrain from applause or disparagement during the debate, and will be encouraged to meet the candidates afterward.

Source: Kristin Lyerly, Tony Wied finalize format for their 8th Congressional District debate