PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri and Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty will square off tonight in the first debate of the 2006 governor's race.

The debate is sponsored by the watchdog group Common Cause and will focus on good-government issues.

What does that mean? H. Philip West Jr., executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, was hesitant to say too much, at the risk of tipping off the candidates to the question list. But, West said, "Predictably, they would expect questions about ethics and campaign finance and separation of powers."

Tonight's debate kicks off a series of faceoffs between the Republican Carcieri, a former CEO wrapping up his first four-year term in the governor's office, and Democrat Fogarty, who is bumping up against the eight-year term limit for the lieutenant governor's office, and previously served in the state Senate.

The debate's moderator will be Chellie Pingree, president and CEO of the Common Cause national organization. The debate is part of the Rhode Island chapter's annual meeting, which starts at 6, with dinner and a business meeting before the debate begins at 7.

Advance registration was required, and on Friday, all 400 seats were already taken, West said. Tonight's debate will not air live on TV or radio, but four future debates will. The dates are: Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. on Channel 11 (WNAC); Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. on the Arlene Violet Show on WHJJ (920-AM); and Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. on the Dan Yorke Show on WPRO (630-AM). The campaigns are still arranging a date and time for a debate on Channel 10 (WJAR), spokesmen said Friday.

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