News 2014: UMass Dartmouth hosts gubernatorial debate October 17

News 2014: UMass Dartmouth hosts gubernatorial debate October 17
UMass Dartmouth hosts gubernatorial debate October 17

Political Science Professor Shannon Jenkins to moderate

The two major party nominees for governor, Republican Charlie Baker and Democrat Martha Coakley, have committed to attend an October 17 debate at UMass Dartmouth hosted by the SouthCoast Alliance, a consortium of media, business, and community organizations.

The debate will begin at 4 p.m. and take place in the Main Auditorium. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and the debate's programming will start at 3:40 p.m.

The debate will be moderated by UMass Dartmouth Political Science Chairperson Professor Shannon Jenkins. Professor Jenkins' research focuses on American public policy and state and local politics, with a specific emphasis upon state legislatures and political parties. She has published several articles on a variety of topics in American politics in journals such as Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, and Urban Affairs Review.

"It is a great privilege to have Professor Jenkins serve as moderator for this upcoming debate. We're confident she will engage both candidates on the major issues confronting our region and the Commonwealth, providing voters of the SouthCoast with an opportunity to assess the positions of each individual candidate," said SouthCoast Alliance Chair Craig Dutra.

Media interested in covering the debate should contact Joe Sullivan (e-mail: joseph.sullivan@umassd.edu; phone: 508-542-6919). All electronic media need to arrive to the campus by 3 p.m. on the day of the debate. UMass Dartmouth's Main Auditorium is located within the university's MacLean Campus Center (285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747).