Last winter in Washington, D.C., the Executive Committee met together and voted to (1) endorse an NBA sponsored Governor Debate; (2) endorse an NBA sponsored Senator Debate; and (3) approved the expenditure of NBA budget funds to cover the entire cost of these two debates.  These debates will be provided at no cost to participating television and radio stations.  Immediate Spanish translation and closed captioning will also be provided.

Last week during an Executive Committee conference call, these NBA leaders reiterated the goals and objectives we hope to achieve by sponsoring what has already become the two major statewide debates of the 2010 Nevada General Election. All four major candidates -- Sharron Angle and Harry Reid; Rory Reid and Brian Sandoval have accepted our invitation to participate.  We have been in ongoing communication with each campaign staff..

What we have begun to do with each of the campaign staff, we are also about to do through a meeting of the NBA Board of Directors on June 29th. The purpose of the meeting is to receive input -- the sharing of ideas and recommendations as we begin to build consensus in order to finalize together the plans for the upcoming NBA sponsored debates.  In a letter that will be handed to each candidate we made our goals and objectives very clear:  "We want to move away from the editorials and political punditry; from the negative campaign commercials and press releases.  We want to present a positive discourse, giving you the opportunity to outline your positions on issues impacting Nevada / and this country."

Members of the Executive Committee believe that these two debates have the potential to be the most watched and listened to debates in the history of the state of Nevada.  We estimate participation at being between 50 - 60 television and radio stations.  We have already been contacted by C-Span who will air the debates nationally. By having the NBA produce these two debates, we are able to strengthen our lobbying positions for the legislative concerns that we all share -- both in Washington, D.C. and Carson City.  As "Switzerland", the NBA provides a neutral sponsorship,  demonstrating how we use our spectrum and provide community service.