This report is from DDNS reporter Shailey Wooldridge.

 Arkansas State University’s School of Media and Journalism hosted the first live broadcast debate of this 2024 election season with running candidates for U.S. Representative District 1 Oct. 3 at six p.m.

ASU-TV, The Herald, KLEK-FM, KASU-FM, and Red Wolf Radio sponsored the first of three political debates scheduled for this month, beginning on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at the ASU-TV studio.

Debate panelists included Brandon Tabor, KASU News Director; LaGanzie Kale, KLEK General Manager; and Jerry Don Burton, Editor-in-Chief of A-State’s The Herald.

The debate was filmed live from the ASU-TV studio as part of the class video production II taught by Galen Perkins.

Perkins, an instructor of creative media production, said it is important to have student involvement in our elections as many of the topics addressed affect students.

“Having it here on campus, we’re inviting these politicians to our local turf so that they get to know the students and they get to know different people from the community that they might not otherwise get a chance to interact with,” Perkins said.

Democratic candidate Rodney Govens and libertarian candidate Steven Parsons participated in this debate. In their opening remarks, both candidates said the system is not working.

Parsons said that in the two-party system, both had failed his family. Govens said he believes the time for change has come.

Parsons’ platform includes advocating for immigration reform to reduce bureaucracy.

“First we have to change the work visa and Green Card rule so that you can bring workers into this country legally,” Parsons’ said. “Let’s change the policy so that there is a meaningful legal mechanism to bring immigrants into this country. One of the second ones would be, if you think you’re going to build a wall, then we can build a wall around the safety net program and welfare.”

Goven’s platform includes expanding access to healthcare in rural areas and expanding broadband infrastructure.

“Our population is going down because we can’t keep them healthy. That’s one issue. The second issue is infrastructure. In many counties across this state, we still don’t have adequate broadband infrastructure,” Govens said. “You should have every resource to be successful, no matter where you live.”

Govens supports policy initiatives such as updating the Farm Bill and creating fair labor policies for farmers. He aims to address income inequality. He promotes criminal justice reform, affordable housing, investment in education, environmental sustainability, and student loan forgiveness. He also privatizes cybersecurity for public schools, veterans’ support, health care, and mental health services. He focuses on creating economic stability, promoting small business, and reforming the foster care system.

Parsons’ platform focuses on reducing inflation by eliminating trade tariffs, cutting federal regulations, and lowering federal spending. He advocates for immigration reform. He supports prison reform, particularly for nonviolent offenses, and opposes high military spending and student loan forgiveness. His economic approach centers on limiting federal intervention and creating clearer paths to residency for immigrants.

Republican incumbent Rick Crawford was invited to the debate but did not respond in a timely manner.

Govens said the incumbent, Crawford, feels he is untouchable because he did not attend the debate.

“We need to go ahead and help Mr. Crawford secure some fruitful employment because currently, he is suing the American taxpayer, everybody within earshot of my voice,” Givens said. “He is suing you because he doesn’t think he makes enough money.”

Parsons said he was disappointed that incumbent Rick Crawford did not show up and would have preferred he had been there.

“When incumbents across the board in US Congress win 97% of the time, and he’s been an incumbent for 14 years in a super red district in some sense, it’s easy for him, it’s easy for anybody, to understand why he feels like he doesn’t need to come to the debate. He feels like he’s going to win anyway,” Parsons said.

The next political debate will be on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. between AR Senate District 20 candidates Dan Sullivan and Erika Askeland.

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