Butler County this month will host the first in a series of debates between congressional candidates in the 3rd District.

Republican U.S. Rep. Phil English and Democratic challenger Steven Porter will debate the issues at 7 p.m. June 28 at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

The Butler County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the debate that will feature a panel posing questions to the candidates.

English, 47, of Erie is seeking a sixth term in the House of Representatives. Porter, 60, of Wattsburg, Erie County, is opposing English in the Nov. 2 election.

Porter, a retired college professor and educational administrator in Binghamton, N.Y, moved with his wife to Erie County in 2002.

While in Binghampton, he ran four unsuccessful campaigns for the New York

Senate.

In addition to the June 28 forum, English and Porter will debate on three other occasions.

While plans have not been finalized for the other debates, all in September, Grove City College in Mercer County will host one of them on either Sept. 10 or 17.

Mercyhurst College in Erie will host another debate on one of the same two dates.

The final debate will be on Sept. 20 at Allegheny College in Meadville, Crawford County.

The three colleges are sponsoring the September debates.

The candidates agreed to square off in the four counties that comprise most of the 3rd District.

The district includes 61 of 82 precincts in Butler County as well as all of Erie County and parts of Armstrong, Crawford, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties.

While both candidates said they welcomed the four planned forums, Porter's camp is hoping for even more.

"We're still pushing to have additional debate opportunities but we're pleased that the candidates have already agreed to the four debates," said Peter Zeigler of Meridian, Porter's campaign manager.