ABC 7 Eyewitness News To Partner With League of Women Voters, Univision

CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ABC 7 Chicago, the station that has broadcast candidate debates for more than two decades, will partner with the League of Women Voters of Illinois and Univision Chicago for VOTE 2014: Debate in the Race for Governor.

On Thursday, February 27 at 7:00pm the four candidates running for the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor—Illinois State Senator Bill Brady, Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard, Businessman Bruce Rauner and Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford—will debate the issues at ABC 7 studios.   VOTE 2014:  Debate in the Race for Governor will be streamed live on abc7chicago.com and will also be live on the station's digital channel 7.2 (Comcast Channels 217, 244, 345, Wide Open West 101, 219 and RCN 618, 321). The hour-long debate will be presented commercial free.

Also on Thursday, February 27, Univision Chicago will air the debate from 10:35pm-11:35pm and will feature post-debate analysis from 11:35-Midnight. The debate will be streamed LIVE on univisionchicago.com.

On Friday, February 28 PM at 7:00 pm the debate will air during primetime on ABC 7 Chicago's main channel, preempting network programming. (The preempted programming will air on Saturday, March 1. LAST MAN STANDING will air from 1:30p-2:00PM followed by THE NEIGHBORS from 2:00-2:30 PM.)

ABC 7 Eyewitness News Anchor Ron Magers will moderate the VOTE 2014: Debate in the Race for Governor and will also serve to question the Republican gubernatorial candidates. ABC 7's Political Reporter Charles Thomas and Univision Reporter Erika Maldonado will also question the candidates. 

According to John Idler, President and General Manager, ABC 7 Chicago, "Political debates have been an important part of our history for more than two decades. It is always our hope that by airing these debates, the voters of Illinois will be able to make better, more informed decisions. We thank Univision and the League of Woman Voters for joining us in this effort."

Mary Kubabsak, President, League of Woman Voters of Illinois said, "The League of Women Voters of Illinois has a long tradition of sponsoring debates with ABC 7 and is grateful, once again, to be part of this debate at which the four Republican candidates in the March 18th primary will participate. Providing voters the opportunity to hear from these candidates about their views is bedrock to the League's mission."

Larry Sands, Regional Vice President & General Manager Univision Chicago said, "It's an honor to stand side by side with two leaders such as ABC 7 & The League of Women Voters Illinois. This project that will bring to the forefront topics that matter most to the almost half a million Hispanic registered voters, whose growing influence may ultimately decide this and future races."

SOURCE ABC 7 Chicago