This Season, Themed Mayoral Debates

In the last 24 hours, press releases have piled up in the in-box announcing three very different mayoral debates featuring ex-Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, current city council member Ron Natinsky and former "homeless czar" and Park Board president Mike Rawlings.

One's traditional: On April 19 at 7 p.m., KTXA-Channel 21 will broadcast a debate from SMU's Hughes-Trigg Theater, which will be moderated by Channel 11 anchor Doug Dunbar. It's a standard one-hour showdown, which is being co-sponsored by The Daily Campus.

But that release was followed by another invite to a far more specific debate that will take place next Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the the North Texas Food Bank on 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Road. Its subject, per the release: "Nonprofit representatives and NTFB Member Agency clients struggling to make ends meet will be able to ask questions and listen to candidates' prepared remarks about hunger, poverty, nutrition, education and other related issues."

Then, last night, came this announcement for a debate to be held at the Nasher Sculpture Center on April 20 at 5:30 p.m.: "Hear the Candidates' views on the role of the Arts in Dallas." This one's sponsored by the Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition, Downtown Dallas Inc. and Dallas Arts District, and all are welcome so long as you e-mail your RSVP to this address. Perhaps these kinds of nitty and gritty debates have taken place in past years; doesn't ring a bell, but I've got tinnitus. Still -- who else needs to hold their airing of grievances while the Holy Trinity dances 'round the Festivus pole? Speak up now. You. Kruger.