St. Louis County executive candidates Steve Stenger and Rick Stream will face off in a public debate Oct. 14 hosted by St. Louis Public Radio in partnership with the University of Missouri–St. Louis. It is the first planned debate ahead of the Nov. 4 election.
The hourlong debate, moderated by "St. Louis on the Air" host Don Marsh, will be broadcast live at noon Oct. 14 from the Touhill Performing Arts Center's Lee Theater. St. Louis Public Radio political reporters Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum will serve as panelists. The station will host a live-blog and Twitter conversation during the debate using the hashtag #STLCoDebate.
The public is invited to attend, and questions will be collected from audience members. Questions also may be submitted before the debate. Doors open at 11:20 a.m. Oct. 14 and seating is first-come, first-served. All audience members must be seated by 11:50 a.m. To ensure that the Lee Theater does not reach attendance beyond its capacity, at 10:45 a.m., St. Louis Public Radio will begin handing out door passes to those who have arrived first. The only entry to the Touhill Performing Arts Center will be its main entrance, on the east side of the building. Political or candidate signs or banners will not be permitted inside the Lee Theater.
Stenger, a Democrat, grew up in south St. Louis and now lives in Affton. A lawyer and certified public accountant, he has been a county councilman since 2009.
Stream, a Republican, is a lifelong Kirkwood resident. He served on the Kirkwood School District Board for 12 years and won his state House of Representatives seat in 2006. He won three more terms in that office, and has led the House Budget Committee.
Share your questions for the candidates now. The debate will be rebroadcast at 10 p.m. Oct. 14; an archive of the broadcast will be available at stlpublicradio.org.
Directions
The Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center's Lee Theater is located on the University of Missouri–St. Louis campus.
Take I-70 to Florissant Road (Exit 240). Travel south on Florissant Road to the second university entrance at Grobman Drive. Turn right. Parking is available in the garage to the left, just under the bridge, and in Parking Lot E on the right, about 500 feet past the bridge.
From Natural Bridge, turn left onto University Drive and follow it around to the right as it turns into Grobman Drive. Parking is available in the garages to the right and in Parking Lot E on the left.