Candidates spar at VCU before full house, tv audience

By Joe Kuttenkuler

Sonia Vlacevic Concert Hall at VCU's Performing Arts Center hosted a full house for the the first televised debate of the 2001 Virginia governor's race.

Tickets were in demand shortly after the campaign staffs for Republican Mark L. Earley and Democrat Mark R. Warner announced that they would hold the third of their four scheduled debates -- and the first to be shown on TV -- at VCU on Oct. 3. More than 450 guests were in the audience as VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., welcomed the candidates.

Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, distinguished professor in VCU's Center for Public Policy, moderated the hour-long debate, in which the candidates clashed sharply over taxes. The panel directing questions at the candidates included Robert L. Holsworth, Ph.D., director of the Center for Public Policy.

The debate was covered by about 100 media members and broadcast live on WTVR-TV in Richmond, WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, WRVA-AM in Richmond and statewide over the Virginia News Network. The full debate also was aired later on NewsChannel 8 in Washington, D.C., and WTKR-TV in Norfolk. Excerpts were included in newscasts by WUSA-TV and WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., WSLS-TV in Roanoke, WAVY-TV in Norfolk and WVIR-TV in Charlottesville.