U.S. Rep. Phil English and Democratic challenger Steven Porter have agreed in principle to debate the issues in the 3rd Congressional District.

But working out the logistics — such as when and where, how many debates, and whether a third-party candidate will participate — is another thing.

"Phil's always debated his opponents in the past, and he looks forward to doing so again this year with both other candidates,"said English campaign manager Brad Moore.

Porter of Wattsburg, Erie County, a retired college professor and educational administrator, publicly raised the issue of debates leading up to the Nov. 7 election during several stops at newspapers.

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.

"Ithink when candidates are running for public office at a time of national, international and global crisis, the welfare of the people they're elected to serve takes top priority,"Porter said.

"And that welfare depends upon getting our views out to the public in a fair forum."

English and Porter apparently welcome Constitution Party candidate Tim Hagberg to the debates.

Afirst-time candidate, Hagberg previously urged candidates of the two main parties to include him in any debates.

Porter has called for a minimum of three debates — possibly to be in mid-September, late-September and early-October.

"Slippery Rock University, Mercyhurst College (in Erie) and another college setting are logical sites for the debates,"he said.

Moore noted Porter only called English's Erie office on Friday to suggest having debates, and that he had not had time to discuss specifics with English, who is seeking a seventh term.

"But we'll have the congressional schedule to work around,"Moore said.

English and Porter debated three times when they squared off in the 2004 election, but not before some back and forth bickering about what format the forums should take.

"We agreed on procedures last time around,"Porter said, "and I would be perfectly willing to abide by the same procedures now."