CD1 candidates to debate Wednesday, Sunday

First congressional district candidates will come together to debate twice this week.

Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. they will meet at the SPACE art gallery on Congress Street in Portland in a forum hosted by the League of Young Voters, the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine and the Portland Community Television Network. Justin Ellis of the Portland Press Herald will moderate the debate.

Democratic candidates expected to participate are: Adam Cote, Chellie Pingree, Steve Meister, Michael Brennan and Ethan Strimling. Mark Lawrence is unable to attend because of the death of his father, but will send a surrogate.

Republican Dean Scontras will also participate, along with a representative from the Charlie Summers campaign.

Each candidate will get 90-second introduction and closing statements. The rest of the debate will be made up of questions submitted by the co-sponsoring organizations. They will be drawn randomly and asked to only one candidate.

At the end of the debate, each candidate will have the chance to ask another candidate one question.

Candidates will again debate at 6:30 Sunday at the Friends Church on Route 202 in Windham.