Lt. Gov. hopefuls to debate environmental issues

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two of Indiana's three lieutenant governor candidates will face off in a debate on the environmental challenges confronting the state.

The Hoosier Environmental Council is hosting Thursday night's debate at the Indiana History Center in downtown Indianapolis. The group says Democratic nominee Vi Simpson and Libertarian candidate Brad Klopfenstein both have agreed to take part.

But Republican nominee Sue Ellspermann has declined to participate.

Hoosier Environmental Council executive director Jesse Kharbanda says that while Ellspermann has instead offered to meet with council members in person, the Indianapolis-based group believes "voters' views should be informed, whenever possible, by actual statements, not hearsay."

Kharbanda says environmental issues cross party lines, just as air and water quality affect every Indiana resident's quality of life.