YAKIMA -- Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire and her Republican challenger Dino Rossi will debate in Yakima.

Though the date has not been set, the candidates both have agreed to make Yakima one of five debate locations. It is likely to be scheduled for sometime in late September or the first half of October, said Mike Shepard, publisher of the Yakima Herald-Republic, which will be a sponsor of the debate.

"It's an opportunity for issues that are particularly important to Central Washington voters to be debated here," he said.

Voters throughout the state will be able to watch as public television stations statewide broadcast the Yakima debate live, Shepard said.

The debate's format likely will include questions from a moderator and panelists, as well as from members of the public.

"Voter participation is critical," Gregoire campaign spokeswoman Debra Carnes said in a press release announcing the debates.

The other debates will be in Tacoma, Spokane and Seattle, which will host two.

— Pat Muir