CONCORD, N.H. – Sept. 10, 2008 – Two business forums featuring the New Hampshire gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates will be held in October at the Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, and broadcast by New Hampshire Public Television and New Hampshire Public Radio. Incumbent Governor John Lynch and state Senator Joseph Kenney will face off in a forum October 1; the candidates for the U.S. Senate, incumbent U.S. Senator John Sununu and former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, will participate in a forum October 6.The luncheon forums are presented by the Business and Industry Association, in partnership with New Hampshire Public Television, New Hampshire Public Radio and the New Hampshire Union Leader. Candidates will focus specifically on topics important to New Hampshire’s business community, such as energy policy, healthcare costs and labor issues.Laura Knoy, host of NHPR’s daily, statewide news and public affairs call-in show The Exchange, will moderate the candidate forums. The forums will feature a panel of reporters who will question the candidates. Members of the audience may e-mail questions to the candidates and some will be answered during the forums. The forums will be taped for later broadcast on NHPTV and NHPR and streamed live on the Web on nhptv.org.“The forums will be less formal than traditional debates, but still require the candidates to address specific questions from panelists and the audience about pressing business issues,” said Jim Roche, president of the Business and Industry Association. “We hope these events will provide business leaders an excellent opportunity to hear from and question candidates about state and federal issues directly impacting their operations.”The business forums will be held at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. Registration the day of the forums will take place from 11 a.m. to noon. Lunch begins at noon and the program starts at 12:30 p.m. Advance registration is required as seating is limited. The cost is $90 per person, which includes admission to both forum events.To purchase tickets for the candidate forums, call 603-224-5388 x116 or visit acteva.com/go/nhbia. Members of the media who wish to cover the event should contact Barbara Leblanc at Saint Anselm College, bleblanc@anselm.edu, for credentials. ###About New Hampshire Public Television: NHPTV engages minds, connects communities, and celebrates New Hampshire with programs that entertain, educate and enrich. Beyond its award-winning local and national television programs, New Hampshire Public Television is a leader in education and community outreach. NHPTV provides instructional services for 206,000 students from kindergarten through high school; offers Ready to Learn programs and services for children preschool to age 8, parents, and early education professionals; and provides professional development programs and advanced technology training for educators in New Hampshire and neighboring states. www.nhptv.orgAbout the BIA: The Business and Industry Association is New Hampshire’s state chamber of commerce and leading business advocate. The BIA represents more than 400 members in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, professional services, financial services, health care, hospitality and tourism, public utilities, higher education, insurance and technology. Member firms employ 80,000 people throughout the state and contribute $4.5 billion annually to the state’s economy. Through advocacy with state legislators and regulators, the BIA works to promote a healthy business climate and robust economic future for New Hampshire. The BIA’s 2008 public policy priorities include: working to preserve and enhance New Hampshire’s business tax climate; addressing the rising cost of health care and health insurance; working to improve the availability and affordability of workforce housing; mitigating the rising cost of energy; addressing New Hampshire’s constricting labor pool; and continuing to focus on environmental regulations, legislation and administrative rules that impact the business community. For more information about the BIA, go to www.nhbia.org.About the New Hampshire Union Leader: The New Hampshire Union Leader is the Granite State's largest newspaper and the only daily bringing news and advertising to the statewide market. It traces its roots back to 1863 as the Manchester Union; its biggest edition, the New Hampshire Sunday News, was founded in 1946. In combination with UnionLeader.com, a Web site that blends breaking news coverage with the best reporting from the newspaper, it reaches a growing New Hampshire and national audience from its Manchester base. www.unionleader.com About New Hampshire Public Radio: NHPR serves more than 150,000 listeners each week through a network of eleven full power stations and low power translators. NHPR is the only statewide source of radio news, information, and entertainment for the Granite State, offering in-depth reporting of the issues facing New Hampshire residents. NHPR's staff sees the importance of providing a comprehensive information source for New Hampshire as one of the station's highest priorities. Contributions from listeners and businesses in New Hampshire make up more than 90 percent of the revenue necessary to operate NHPR. NHPR broadcasts in Concord and Manchester at 89.1 FM, Nashua at 88.3 FM, Keene at 90.7 FM, Littleton at 91.3 FM, Plymouth at 97.3 FM, Hanover at 91.3 FM, Jackson at 99.5 FM, Portsmouth at 103.9 FM, Dover at 104.3 FM, Gorham at 107.1 FM, Colebrook at 105.9 and on the Internet at www.nhpr.org.
About New Hampshire PBS: New Hampshire PBS inspires one million Granite Staters each month with engaging and trusted local and national programs and services on-air, online, via mobile, in classrooms and in communities. Beyond its award-winning television programs, New Hampshire PBS is a leader in education and community engagement. www.nhpbs.org
Visit the NHPBS PRESSROOM at www.nhpbs.org/pressroom
Phone (603) 868-1100 • Fax (603) 868-7552
NHPBS • NHPBS EXPLORE • NH WORLD • NH CREATE • NHPBS KIDS
###