Ready to Rumble -

By Dana Gentry

Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 | 4:25 p.m.

My long absence from this space can be attributed to the most Herculean of tasks - coordinating the schedules of candidates we'd like to see debate on Face to Face. And now, the fruits of my labor:

Congressional District 2: U.S. Rep. Dean Heller (R) is declining our invitation to debate Jill Derby (D) on a special prime time edition of Face to Face on KLAS-TV Channel 8. However, we are talking with the Heller camp about a debate the following week on cable.

Congressional District 3: Democrat Dina Titus goes Face to Face with U.S. Rep. Jon Porter (R) in another prime time special on Channel 8 after the October 15 presidential debate.

State Supreme Court: Kris Pickering and Judge Deborah Schumacher debate in prime time on Channel 8 after the October 2 vice-presidential debate.

Clark County Commission: Steve Sisolak (D) and Brian Scroggins (R) go Face to Face in prime time, as do Larry Brown (D) and Valerie Weber (R)on Channel 8 following the presidential debate this Friday, September 26.

Assembly District 2: Carlos Blumberg, where are you? Your opponent, Republican candidate John Hambrick, will be appearing alone if we don't hear from you soon.

Assembly District 4: Republican Richard McArthur, who warned I'd have trouble finding his opponent, has yet to find an acceptable time to debate Democrat Craig Ballew, who has accepted.

Assembly Distirct 12: Democrat James Ohrenschall will be going it alone since Republican opponent Dallas Augustine is refusing to debate. Her mother, the late State Controller Kathy Augustine, never backed down from a debate on Face to Face, even after facing an impeachment trial.

Assembly District 21: Republican Jon Ozark and Democrat Ellen Spiegel go Face to Face on October 16.

Assembly District 23: Not even Melissa Woodbury's campaign staff can get the Republican novice to return our calls. Lucky for Woodbury, her opponent, Democrat Allison Herr, is also among the missing.

Assembly District 29: Republican Sean Fellows and Democrat April Mastroluca meet October 14.

Senate District 5: Democrat Shirley Breeden's campaign mailer says she's One Tough Mom. But Mama Bear Breeden had one of her cubs call to decline our invite. That gives State Sen. Joe Heck (R) a pass on a debate.

Senate District 6: Breeden's fellow Democratic newcomer is also declining. Allison Copening, who appeared alone on the program, refuses to debate State Sen. Bob Beers (R).

District Court 6: Elissa Cadish and Ben Childs go Face to Face October 6.

District Court 7: Candidates Robert Spretnak and Linda Bell debate on September 30.

District Court 8: Attorney Josh Kunis takes on Judge Doug Smith on October 6.

District Court 10: Judge Jessie Walsh faces challenger William Kephart on October 13.

District Court 12: Kurt Harris is anxious to debate Judge Michelle Leavitt, who says she's willing but presiding over a potential death penalty case.

District Court 14: Judge Donald Mosley is declining to debate his opponent, North Las Vegas Deputy District Attorney Chris Davis, who will appear alone.

District Court 17: Incumbent Michael Villani is ready and willing, but opponent Bruce Gale has failed to respond to our requests.

District Court 22: Judge Susan Johnson was willing to make room on her calendar for a debate, but opponent Donn Ianuzi has also failed to respond.

District Court 23: Judge Stefany Miley is trying to leave her Family Court position mid-term to move to the District Court. She's willing to debate, but her opponent for Elizabeth Halverson's seat, attorney Jason Landess, says he's not interested.

District Court 25: Attorney Susan Scann and Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Delaney square off on October 16.

Family Court G: Judge Dianne Steel goes Face to Face with challenger Amy Mastin on October 17.

Family Court I: Judge Cheryl Moss says she has a full calendar and can't debate challenger Greta Muirhead. My guess is Moss still doesn't want to answer questions we've long tried to ask about the case of Syber Wells, the 12-year-old who killed himself with his father's rifle. Moss dismissed concerns from Syber's mother about the guns in her estranged husband's home, with tragic results.

Family Court J: Judge Lisa Kent, who earned dismal ratings in a survey of lawyers, says she can't debate challenger Ken Pollock because both of the judge's parents are in the hospital.

Family Court K: Vincent Ochoa and Cynthia Giuliani meet again on October 8 in a program that will air on October 10.

Family Court L: Judge Jennifer Elliot takes on challenger Dawn Throne on October 17.

Family Court N: Two family court attorneys making another bid for the bench, Gayle Nathan and Matthew Harter, go Face to Face October 9.

Family Court O: Frank Sullivan is in. Waiting for Ron Israel to find a suitable date.

Family Court P: Judge Sandra Pomrenze and challenger Jack Howard meet October 8 in a debate that will air on the 10th.

Family Court Q: Bryce Duckworth meets up with Carl Piazza on October 9.

Family Court R: Chuck Hoskin and perennial candidate Bill Henderson go Face to Face.on October 14.

School Board A: Edward Goldman and Deanna Wright both want to replace term-limited Mary Beth Scow. They'll square off October 3.

School Board B: Teacher Ron Taylor says he can't take time off from the classroom to debate, so Chris Garvey may appear solo.

School Board C: Linda Young and Ronan Matthew meet on October 3rd.

Updates to follow daily on our Failure to Commit segment at the end of Face to Face.