Like many people, I've watched the presidential and vice presidential debates and found them, on the whole, to be informative.

Sure, they could be better. Candidates too often are sticking to talking points and other scripted answers, and the formats have not always produced the best back-and-forth dialogue that I believe so many voters would like to see.

But one aspect of the debate that I have a hard time criticizing is the moderator. That's because I have plenty of empathy for the people charged with asking the questions.

I'm now going to be entering my third fall campaign asking questions as part of the local election forums taped at Cayuga Community College. This year, the forums are featuring candidates in four state Legislature races, two U.S. Congress races and a race for a Cayuga County Legislature seat.

While I've enjoyed this opportunity, it's also a tough assignment because it's impossible to do a perfect job. There's always some question, in hindsight, that I wished I had asked, or had asked differently.

I guess one way to know I had done a decent job is when both campaigns say I was too tough on them.

I'm putting in my preparation time now for these forums, and I'd invite readers to suggest some questions. The more minds that come together on these, the better.

Keep in mind, though, that these questions need to be fact-based and free of commentary. Having moderated audience-participation forums in the past, I've seen my share of loaded questions: “Mr. X, explain to the voters why you are so incompetent and corrupt.”

But I do welcome thoughtful questions that could illuminate issues for the audience. Below are the debates coming up and their scheduled first air times. We'll also be posting these debates to our Web site, auburnpub.com, in case you miss the TV showing.

The complete schedule for the CCC forums, to be shown on Time Warner Cable channel 12:

€ Oct. 14 - 7 p.m. - Assemblyman Brian Kolb vs. Noah Sargent, 129th Assembly District

€ Oct. 16 - 7 p.m. - Howie Hawkins vs. Dale Sweetland, 25th Congressional District; 8 p.m. - Assemblyman Gary D. Finch vs. Barbara King, 123rd Assembly District

€ Oct. 21 - 7 p.m. - County Legislator Patrick McIntosh vs. Cindy Aikman, 15th Legislative District; 8 p.m. - State Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio vs. Paloma Cappana, 54th Senate District

€ Oct. 23 - 7 p.m. - State Sen. David Valesky vs. James DiStefano, 49th Senate District

€ Oct. 28 - 7 p.m. - U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri vs. Richard Hanna, 24th Congressional District

Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's columns run Tuesdays in The

Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net