(a) The Director of Campaign Finance shall conduct at least one debate for each contested primary, special, and general election in an election cycle for the covered offices of Mayor, Attorney General, Chairman of the Council, member of the Council elected at-large, and member of the State Board of Education elected at-large.
(b)(1) For a contested primary election for a covered office listed in subsection (a) of this section, all partisan participating candidates in that primary election shall participate in the debate.
(2) For a contested special election or general election for a covered office listed in subsection (a) of this section, all participating candidates shall participate in the debate.
(3) If there is no other participating candidate, or other candidate who is not a participating candidate who is willing to participate in a debate under this section, for a covered office, then the requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall be waived for that covered office.
(4) Any candidate who has qualified for ballot access for a covered office listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, in accordance with the procedures required by the Elections Board pursuant to § 1-1001.08, and who is not a participating candidate, may participate in a debate for that covered office held pursuant to this section.
