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Next week, Wyoming PBS is providing Wyoming voters with the only statewide broadcast debates among candidates for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. This election year shines a bright spotlight on representatives in Washington, D. C., as the nation struggles with a tough economy, foreign military entanglements, and questions about our energy supplies and their impact on the environment. The first debate, Sunday October 26 at 7 p.m., is between candidates for a 6-year Senate term, incumbent Sen. Mike Enzi (Republican) and challenger Chris Rothfuss, a chemical engineer and instructor at the University of Wyoming. grapple with a tough economy and military engagements overseas. The second debate, Monday October 27 at 7 p.m., is among candidates for a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Cynthia Lummis (Republican), a former state treasurer; Gary Trauner (Democrat), of Jackson; and David Herbert (Libertarian). The third debate, Tuesday October 28 at 7 p.m., is between candidates competing to complete the remaining four years of the late Sen. Craig Thomas' term: appointed incumbent Sen. John Barrasso (Republican), a Casper doctor, versus Nick Carter (Democrat), an attorney from Gillette. Watch the Debates OnlineSubmit Your Questions for the CandidatesOver the years, moderator Geoff O'Gara has found some of the best questions for these debates come from our viewers. So we invite you, our readers and viewers, to send your questions directly to him at gogara@cwc.edu. Questions may be directed to specific candidates, specific races, or to candidates in all three debates. Please note in your email whether you would want the moderator to identify you as the source of a question, or if you'd prefer to remain anonymous. If we modify or combine questions, we will not identify the source. If we mention your name on the air, we would like to identify your home town. The FormatWe have made a number of changes from the format of the primary debates. There will be no opening statements. The first 35 minutes of the debate will be conducted with the candidates at podiums in traditional debate format: the first respondent will have one minute to answer; the second respondent will then have one minute to answer; the first respondent will have 30 seconds for a rebuttal. Green-amber-red lights will alert candidates and moderators to time limits. The next phase of the debate will be less formal - candidates will be seated at a table with the moderators, and will ask each other questions and may engage in a respectful exchange of views, under the control of the moderators. There will also be a number of questions from the moderators directed specifically to each candidate regarding his or her records or positions. The debate will end with each candidate given 1:15 seconds for closing statements. (There will be no "lightning round" in these debates.) The CandidatesU.S. Senate (Debating on Sunday, October 26 at 7 p.m.)
Mike Enzi (Republican)http://enzi.senate.gov/public/ Mike Enzi, a Republican from Gillette, is running for re-election to the United States Senate against Democrat Chris Rothfuss from Laramie. Enzi has served in the US Senate since 1996, and is running for his third term. Before he was elected to the US Senate, Enzi served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991, and the Wyoming Senate from 1991 to 1996. In addition, Enzi served as staff sergeant in the Wyoming Air National Guard from 1967 to 1973, and was Mayor of Gillette from 1975 to 1982. Enzi earned an MBA in retail marketing from the University of Denver, and in 1969, he opened NZ Shoes, a small business in Gillette. From 1985 to 1997, Enzi worked as accounting manager and computer programmer for Dunbar Well Service, and from 1992 to 1996, he worked as director of the Black Hills Corporation. 
Chris Rothfuss (Democrat)http://www.rothfussforsenate.com Chris Rothfuss, a Democrat from Laramie, is running against incumbent Republican Mike Enzi for a seat in the United States Senate. Rothfuss holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington, and is currently a Professor at the University of Wyoming in the Political Science and International Studies Departments, as well as in the University Honors Program. In 1997, Rothfuss began working for Chemical Tracers, Inc. on projects related to advanced oil recovery, and continues a professional relationship with the company. From 2003 to 2006 he worked for the U.S. Department of State in the Office of the Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary, and later in the Office of Space and Advanced Technology.    Do you really know where the candidates stand? Take our new Vote by Issue quiz to find out how GOP and Democratic presidential candidates stack up on key election issues. NewsHour Election NewsU.S. Senate (Debating on Tuesday, October 28 at 7 p.m.)
John Barrasso (Republican)http://barrasso.senate.gov/public/ John Barrasso, a Republican from Natrona County, is running against Democrat Nick Carter for a seat in the United States Senate. Barrasso has served in the US Senate since June 2007, when Governor Freudenthal appointed him to fill the seat of late Republican Senator Craig Thomas. The upcoming election will determine who gets to serve the remainder of Thomas's term, culminating in 2013. Prior to his appointment, Barrasso served in the Wyoming State Senate from 2002 to 2006, where he was Chairman of the Senate Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee. Barrasso earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Georgetown University, and maintains a private practice as an Orthopedic Surgeon in Casper. In addition, he is President of the National Association of Physician Broadcasters, is President of the Wyoming Medical Society, and is also Chief of Staff for the Wyoming Medical Center. 
Nick Carter (Democrat)Nick Carter, a Democrat from Cambell County, is running against Republican John Barrasso for a seat in the United States Senate. The seat was made vacant by the death of Senator Craig Thomas in 2007. The election will determine who gets to serve the remainder of Thomas's term, culminating in 2013. Carter holds a law degree from the University of Wyoming, and has operated a law firm in Gillette since 1991, trying around 150 jury trials. From 1995 to 1998, Carter worked as Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Campbell County. U.S. House of Representatives (Debating on Monday, October 27 at 7 p.m.)
W. David Herbert (Libertarian)Dave Herbert, a Libertarian from Cody, is running for Wyoming's single seat in the United States House of Representatives, vacated by retiring Republican Barbara Cubin. Herbert faces Republican candidate Cynthia Lummis and Democratic candidate Gary Trauner. Beginning in 1966, Herbert served in the United States Airforce during Vietnam, funding his medical training as a Podiatrist. He has been a licensed Podiatrist in the state of Wyoming since 1976. Herbert also earned a Law Degree from the University of the Pacific. He is a member of the American Region, the National Rifle Association, the Knights of Columbus, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 
Cynthia Lummis (Republican)Cynthia Lummis, a Republican from Cheyenne, is running for Wyoming's single seat in the United States House of Representatives, vacated by retiring Republican Barbara Cubin. Lummis faces Democratic candidate Gary Trauner and Libertarian candidate W. David Herbert. Lummis served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1979 to 1982, the Wyoming State Senate from 1982 to 1994, and as the Wyoming state treasurer from 1999 to 2007. Lummis earned a Law Degree from the University of Wyoming in 1985, and clerked at the Wyoming Supreme Court. Lummis continues to operate her family ranch outside of Cheyenne. 
Gary Trauner (Democrat)http://www.traunerforcongress.com/ Gary Trauner, a Democrat from Teton County, is running for Wyoming's single seat in the United States House of Representatives, vacated by retiring Republican Barbara Cubin. Trauner faces Republican candidate Cynthia Lummis and Libertarian candidate W. David Herbert. In 2006, Trauner ran against Barbara Cubin for the Wyoming seat in the US House of Representatives, losing by around 1,000 votes. Trauner holds an MBA from New York University. He moved to Wyoming in 1990, co-founding the internet service providing business, OneWest.net. He currently works as Chief Financial Officer for Cell Response Formulation, LLC. Primary Debate Videos
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