Rants Set to Debate Narcisse Across the State

GOP Gubernatorial candidate Chris Rants is worried that the Republican primary for governor is simply going to be a name ID and popularity contest, not a vigorous debate about the issues facing the state. In an effort to get people to focus on various issues, Rants has agreed to participate in a series of debates across the state with former Des Moines school board member and Democrat Jon Narcisse.

Narcisse has been advocating his platform of reorganizing state government through his organization, An Iowa Worth Fighting For. There is also speculation that Narcisse may be considering a gubernatorial run of his own. If that comes to fruition, Narcisse would likely run as an independent candidate, not as a Democrat, despite his current voter registration status.

Below are three videos from the joint press conference held by Narcisse and Rants yesterday morning. While Narcisse praised Rants for his willingness to debate, he criticized other candidates, including Bob Vander Plaats, for not having a plan to fix government. You can see these comments in the second video.

The schedule for the debates, their locations, and the topic to be covered is as follows:

In the Quad Cities – December 2nd
Topic: Public Safety
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Bettendorf Public Library
2950 Learning Campus Drive at 18th Street, Bettendorf, Iowa

In Des Moines – December 3rd
Topic: State Government Reform
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., DMACC Ankeny Campus, Health Services Building
2006 Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, Iowa

In Council Bluffs – December 7th
Topic: Local Government Reform
6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Council Bluffs Public Library
400 Willow Avenue, Council Bluffs, Iowa

In Cedar Rapids – December 9th
Topic: Education Reform
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. TBA

In Dubuque – December 15th
Topic: Tax Reform
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. TBA

In Waterloo – December 16th
Topic: Economic Development
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. TBA