ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Orangburg-Calhoun Technical College will be the site Tuesday evening for what is being billed as the first state bipartisan gubernatorial debate of the 2010 election season.

The invitation-only "Spotlight on The Candidates" debate is scheduled to be held at OCtech's Roquemore Auditorium at 5:45 p.m.

The debate will be broadcast at 8 p.m. by South Carolina Education Television's WRLK-DT Channel 35.

All candidates vying to become the state's next governor from the Democratic and Republican parties are expected to participate in the 90-minute debate.

ETV officials say the debate is the first time in S.C. history that the primary candidates from both parties will share the stage at the same time.

Incumbent Gov. Mark Sanford is not eligible to seek re-election.

The primary elections will take place in June 2010 with the general election to take place Nov. 2, 2010.

"We believe our message is the winning message in South Carolina," S.C. Republican Party communications director Joel Sawyer said. "South Carolina is a red state where people believe in the ideas of lower taxes, less spending and limited government."

Sawyer said the debate will showcase both collectively and individually what the Republican Party has to offer.

"We have five great candidates running for governor and we are excited to have them," Sawyer said.

Keiana Page, South Carolina Democratic Party communications director, said the debate will show that the party has "viable candidates" with "fresh ideas" on how to improve the state.

"People will see that Democrats will offer more opportunity to change the state for the better," she said, noting the Republican leadership has continued to "recycle the same held ideas."

"I think voters are starting to lean more to our ideas and they are ready for something new," Page said.

Issues to be discussed include natural resources, especially conservation and economic development, but the debate is not expected to be restricted to these topics.

Orangeburg County Republican Party Chairman Jim Ulmer touted the debate as one that is timely and sure to be informative as viewers will be able to assess all the candidates in one single format.

"It (the debate) is going to be good for the state of South Carolina and Orangeburg," Ulmer said.

He says the GOP has three priorities to expound this election year: job creation, enhancing the value of the tax dollar for all state citizens, and fostering and promoting lifelong education.

Orangeburg County Democratic Party officials could not be reached for comment.

The debate will be presented by BlueCross BlueShield and is hosted by the South Carolina Natural Resources Society.

Other sponsors include Edens & Avant, South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. and Fujifilm.

The Orangeburg area was chosen as the debate location at the suggestion of SCNRC board member and Orangeburg businessman Jim Roquemore. Roquemore is the president and co-owner of Orangeburg's SuperSod Inc.

Roquemore said the statewide exposure is a positive to Orangeburg County.

"OCtech is a great place to hold an event of this size," Roquemore said, touting the college's auditorium as an appropriate size, its proximity to Interstate 26 and proximity of the Edisto River and Lake Marion as ideal to hold a debate on natural conservation.

In addition to being televised, the debate will be streamlined Internet from ETV's Web site, www.scetv.org/candidatespotlight.

The debate will be rebroadcast on the ETV World digital channel at 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.

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T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com

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