Republicans Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will square off in a gubernatorial debate at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Murchison Performing Arts Center at the University of North Texas.

The debate is scheduled to be broadcast live statewide on television and radio as well as online.

Rick Perry

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Other potential debate participants will be announced after the Jan. 4 filing period deadline for the Republican primary. Currently, Debra Medina — a nurse and businesswoman — is the only other Republican gubernatorial candidate to file.

The venue was one of the main reasons for bringing the debate to Denton, said Meg Fullwood, public relations manager for KERA-TV (Channel 13), which is co-sponsoring the event.

“There was interest in doing a debate in front of a live audience. KERA is too small,” Fullwood said. KERA had also considered holding the debate at the studio of KTVT-TV (Channel 11), a CBS affiliate.

“The Murchison … that was the draw,” she said.

Tom Washington, vice chairman of the Denton County Republican Party, said work has been ongoing since last summer to bring the debate to Denton, with the Denton County and Tarrant County GOP pitching in.

“Denton and Tarrant are rock-solid Republican counties,” Washington said. “Moving it north, out of Dallas County, seemed to make more sense for a GOP gubernatorial primary.

“We’re finally able to put the debate together at the start of the primary season,” he said. “So far, it’s the only debate in the state agreed to by both parties.”

The prestige of having the debate at UNT is a plus for the school, Washington said.

The debate is expected to have the largest crowd KERA has had attend a debate, with seating for 850, he said. It will also be simulcast in Spanish.

“The candidates will have the opportunity to influence a lot of voters,” Washington said.

Fullwood said organizers would release more information about the event after the holidays.

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is lewis@dentonrc.com .