GOP candidates for governor asked to sign rules for future debates

At least three Kansas Republican candidates for governor have reservations over possible debate rules, and one has ruled out signing a draft agreement.

A draft agreement obtained by The Eagle, dated October 25, provides for up to six debates, with two before the candidate filing deadline on June 1, and two after. An additional debate before and after the filing deadline is possible with the consensus of the candidates.

Helen Van Etten, national committeewoman for the Kansas Republican Party, said the draft has been revised since The Eagle obtained a copy. She would not provide a current copy. She said in general the party is looking at an agreement that would include debates both before and after the filing deadline.

She said the party is still working to bring two candidates on board with the agreement.

The draft agreement seen by The Eagle bars candidates who don’t sign it from participating in sanctioned debates. The proposal limits debates to 90 minutes, doesn’t allow questions that cannot be asked of all candidates and says that questions should be geared toward issues and not specific candidates.

"I do not plan to sign those rules," said Jim Barnett, a former state senator. "I think it just limits speech and is controlling the democratic process."

Barnett said candidates should be able to debate at any time.

Entrepreneur Ed O’Malley said he has serious concerns. Republican candidates don’t need a contract to have a strong and healthy debate, he said.

"This agreement is not good for Kansas or the Republican Party. I will continue actively working with the party to rescind the portions of this agreement that attempt to control questions or responses. This is heavy-handed and doesn’t foster trust," O’Malley said.

Wichita businessman Wink Hartman’s campaign also expressed concerns, but said the candidate will sign the agreement so he can get his message out to as many people as possible. The campaign said Hartman will have to sign the agreement in order to break through what it called insider political games.

"They told us we couldn’t participate in party debates unless we sign it," said spokesman Dakotah Parshall.

Other campaigns expressed less trepidation.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach has signed the agreement, said Samantha Poetter, his campaign spokeswoman. Poetter said Kobach had signed a newer version of the agreement than the copy obtained by The Eagle.

Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer and the campaign of former state representative Mark Hutton both indicated they would both sign an agreement.

"I’m supportive of the agreement. It’s not unlike the (Republican National Committee) trying to provide some order around the debate process," Selzer said, referring to the presidential debates.

Jim Joice, Hutton’s political director, said the campaign is "looking forward to a vigorous primary season ahead."

The draft agreement seen by The Eagle requires candidates to have been a registered voter in Kansas and to have voted in the last gubernatorial general election in 2014. That requirement would bar from the debate the multiple teenagers who have declared their candidacies.

Van Etten said she applauds the teenagers and encourages everyone to be active in politics, but as the party seeks to decide its nominee it’s looking at who is campaigning and can fundraise and develop a platform.

"This is a real serious thing that we’re doing here," Van Etten said.

The Kansas race for governor is sprawling this year, with nearly 20 candidates so far. On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Jim Ward, former state representative Josh Svaty and former Wichita mayor Carl Brewer are running, along with lesser known individuals and one teen.

The Republican side includes the candidates named above, several teenagers and lesser-known candidates, and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer. A spokesman didn’t immediately comment on Friday afternoon.

Reaching an agreement over debate rules is a consensus process, Van Etten said.

Kelly Arnold, chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, said coordinating debates can be logistically challenging.

"That’s part of the reason the candidates have asked about having these guidelines in place," Arnold said.

This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 5:54 PM with the headline "GOP candidates for governor asked to sign rules for future debates."