A.J. Balukoff, the Democratic candidate for governor of Idaho, today released the schedule of the debates he’s agreed to participate in over the next month – the same four to which GOP Gov. Butch Otter earlier committed, plus one more in Twin Falls. “I look forward to these debates with Gov. Otter and the opportunity to lay out my vision for a better Idaho,” Balukoff said in a statement. “While he may try to distract the debates away from his eight year record, I intend to focus on the issues critical to moving our state forward: better schools, creating good-paying jobs, and restoring trust and accountability to state government.”

Otter already had announced he’ll debate Oct. 3 in Coeur d’Alene, in a face-off at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library sponsored by the Coeur Group; Oct. 9 in Idaho Falls at the Idaho Falls City Club debate; Oct. 14 at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa in a debate sponsored by KTVB-TV; and Oct. 30 in the “Idaho Debates,” which will be broadcast live statewide on Idaho Public Television and are co-sponsored by the Idaho Press Club and the League of Women Voters of Idaho.

Balukoff said he’ll also participate in a debate tomorrow from 7-8 p.m. at Canyon Ridge High School in Twin Falls, sponsored by the Times-News newspaper. Otter was invited to that debate, but declined the invitation. The newspaper announced that its debate will feature Balukoff and Libertarian candidate for governor John Bujak. The Times-News also is hosting a debate tonight between the two candidates for state superintendent of schools, Democrat Jana Jones and Republican Sherri Ybarra.