About a month ago I got a call from the League of Young Voters looking for my help on something.

No stranger to the League, I gladly said I'd be happy to help in any way (as long as it did not conflict with my job, naturally.).

They wanted me to moderate a forum with the candidates running for Maine's First Congressional District seat.

I said, "Sure...I can do that."

Wednesday night at SPACE Gallery in Portland the League, the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine and Portland Community Television Network are hosting a debate. All eight candidates or a surrogate will be in attendance, including:

Democrats-
Michael Brennan
Adam Cote
Mark Lawrence*
Steve Meister
Chellie Pingree
Ethan Strimling

Republicans -
Dean Scontras
Charlie Summers*

(* a surrogate from the campaign will be in attendance. Summers is currently serving in Iraq and his wife, Ruth, is campaigning for him. Mark Lawrence has postponed appearances this week following the death of his father.)

The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and I'd advise getting there early. If seats at SPACE tend to fill up quickly for local music, I'm sure they will be even more in demand to see local politicians.

Not to worry if you can't get there, the forum will be broadcast on the Community Television Network.

As many of you already know the candidates are squaring off for the chance to take the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives being vacated by Rep. Tom Allen as he runs against Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall.

The questions in the debate will come from several sources, including the sponsoring groups as well as the candidates themselves. Much like last fall's Portland School Committee and City Council races, candidates will get a chance to ask each other one direct question.

Keeping 'em honest...and sexy.
(I Want Media)

While I have not seen the questions just yet, you can probably assume we'll be hearing discussion on Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan as well as the downturn in the economy and the housing market.

As for me, I'll be doing my best Anderson Cooper impression for the evening and generally try not to screw things up or get in the way of the candidates.

I can't say I've ever moderated a debate before, unless you count bar arguments with friends over the Patriots, the ending of "No Country for Old Men" or why old school hip-hop is better than anything today.

I've held workshops on journalism, spoken to school kids about my job, presented awards and on more than one occasion appeared on Blunt Youth Radio. But I don't think it will be anything like this.

Still, it's not every day you get asked to take part in something so important to the community. As far as added perks to the job go, this one's not too bad.

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