10/24/13 kb
Two former front-running candidates for president from the Democratic and Republican parties will take the stage at Fort Hays State University's Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4.

It will be the inaugural event in the university's Sebelius Lecture Series on public policy and issues.

Howard Dean, former Vermont governor, and Rick Santorum, former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, will debate "The Proper Role of Government in a Free Society."

Tickets are $20 for reserved seating and $16 unreserved for the general public; $15 reserved and $13 unreserved for senior citizens, age 65 and older, and those aged 5-17; and $10 reserved and $5 unreserved for FHSU students with valid student ID.

Season tickets for both the fall lecture and the spring semester event, featuring Republican political strategist and former deputy White House chief of staff Karl Rove, are also available. Rove's appearance will be Feb. 4.

For the general public, reserved season tickets are $35; unreserved season tickets are $30. Season tickets for senior citizens, age 65 and older, and those aged 5-17 are $25 reserved and $20 unreserved. For FHSU students, season ticket prices are $18 reserved and $8 for unreserved seats.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call the Student Service Center at 785-628-5306.

The new lecture series is named for former U.S. Rep. Keith Sebelius, who graduated from FHSU in 1941. In 1968, he ran as a Republican and won the U.S. House seat previously held by Bob Dole. He served for 12 years. He died at age 66 and is buried in Norton. His son K. Gary Sebelius is a federal magistrate judge and the husband of former Democratic Kansas governor and current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. His son R. Douglas Sebelius is Norton County attorney.