Ose, McClintock to square off in debate tonight

Former congressman Doug Ose and state Sen. Tom McClintock, engaged in a fierce battle to win the Republican nomination to represent the 4th Congressional District, will debate for the first time tonight in Rocklin.

The Lincoln Club of Placer County is hosting the event that begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Sunset Center. Online registration and electronic tickets are required for the public to attend what is billed as part of the organization's "Lincoln-Douglas Debate Series."

McClintock, 51, will term out this year after serving as the state senator representing District 19, in Southern California, since 2000. His political resume includes 14 years as a state assemblyman and unsuccessful bids for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Congress and twice for state controller.

Ose, 52, represented the neighboring 3rd Congressional District for three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. After vowing he would step down after his third term, he did not seek re-election in 2004 - but his sister, Mary Ose, ran unsuccessfully for the seat in a bitter campaign.

Doug Ose owned a real estate business before he ran for Congress in 1998.

Ted Terbolizard and Suzanne Jones, who also are seeking the GOP nomination, were not invited to the debate, according to Dennis C. Revell of Revell Communications, which is helping manage the event.

"We estimate there are at least a dozen and a half debates and forums where all the candidates will meet," Revell said Tuesday afternoon. "So, we felt it was O.K. to hold an event where the leading candidates could meet."

The candidates are seeking to replace incumbent Rep. John Doolittle, a Republican from Roseville who is not seeking re-election after representing the district since 1991.

Doolittle has been the subject of an FBI investigation into his relationship with jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, but no charges have been filed. He narrowly won the district in 2006, and said he would step down amid concern over whether the Republicans could lose the district at a time when the party is fighting to regain seats in the House.

The GOP primary race has gotten off to a contentious start.

Ose has made McClintock's residency a central theme in the campaign although neither man lives in the district, which is not required by state law. McClintock has homes in Elk Grove and in the Southern California community of Thousand Oaks, which is his legal residence and in District 19.

Ose's campaign has called McClintock a "carpetbagger" in television ads running in the Sacramento area. Ose recently rented a guest house in the district in Granite Bay, in District 4.

Members of the Placer County Republican Central Committee jumped into the fray recently when they filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission over a mailer sent by Ose's campaign that depicted McClintock as a bird "feathering his nest." They charged that artwork in the mailer amounts to an undisclosed campaign contribution.

The debate's format will include having the candidates ask each other three questions. Questions also will be accepted from the audience. Event organizers expect around 750 people to attend.

The other candidates for the House are Democrats Charlie Brown, John Wolfgram and Mike Harrington.

The Republican and Democratic primaries are June 3.

What: Debate between GOP House candidates Tom McClintock and Doug Ose

When: 7:30 p.m.- 9 p.m. today

Where: Sunset Center, 2650 Sunset Blvd., Rocklin

Admission: Free, but online tickets are required

Information: www.lincoln

clubofplacercounty.org