Breakfast With Brooke

DENVER (CBS4) ― As we quickly approach Election Day, and one of the longest ballots in American history, big decisions weigh on all of us. Debate producer Dominic Dezzutti has also had something else on his mind: fairness.

"That's what a debate program must be is fair and showing both sides of the issues," Dezzutti said.

The Colorado Decides debate series is the fruit of a partnership between CBS4, the Rocky Mountain News and KBDI, where Dezzutti works.

"I really enjoy the CBS4, KBDI, Rocky Mountain News partnership, because it really brings our information to every medium," said Dezzutti.

Dezzutti said this season's debates reflect an historic election cycle.

"The way that independents in Colorado are turning the tide is making headline news across the nation. Frankly, there's a lot of folks looking at how the campaigns and candidates are handling independent voters here and using those strategies in other states," said Dezzutti. "The presidential race in Colorado is neck and neck. The senate race is neck and neck. The amendments ... very few of them are slam dunks. People are still convinced they can make a difference with their vote."

Dezzutti said economic issues have sharpened voters' focus on this election. He and his co-workers, as well as debate panelists and moderators, fought to get beyond sound bites.

"There are some people you can't pry off their message with a crowbar, but you know, there are some people who will say, 'You know what? Here's the truth,'" Dezzutti said.

Dezzutti ran into a unique situation with the Amendment 47 debate, when the opposition refused to participate unless Amendments 47, 49, and 54 were discussed together during the same half hour. Dezzutti stuck to the format, requiring that each issue be slated for its own debate. Drawing on his 12 years on the job, Dezzutti made the call to do an empty chair debate, hosting only the proponent.

"We're trying to provide the viewers with a balanced viewpoint, and an empty chair may be controversial, but it shows the viewers we have tried our best to provide both sides of the situation," Dezzutti said.

In an unprecedented alliance, labor and business leaders joined to get Amendments 53, 55, 56, and 57 removed from the ballot. In return, the business side of the coalition provided millions to fight anti-union measures on the ballot.

"I've never seen before a coaltion come together and negotiate the Amendments they had on the ballot. The precedent this sets is staggering and could spell some weird situations for Colorado in the future," Dezzutti said.

The author of the Colorado Decides blog here on cbs4denver.com believes blogging has helped revolutionize the way we discuss issues and campaigns.

"You're seeing some of the viewpoints you won't see anywhere else," said Dezzutti.

He had some very specific tips for voters just before the election.

"The first thing I would ask voters to do is to ignore the 30 second ads. They contain very little information. Do the research yourself. It can be done very quickly, whether you're watching the debates on Channel 12 with CBS4 and the Rocky Mountain News, because you're getting the information, or you check out their Web sites," said Dezzutti. "You don't have any excuse any more for not being an informed voter."

The Colorado Decides Senate debate is scheduled for Oct. 30, and CBS4 encouraged viewers to send in questions for Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall that will be posed during the debate.

"It's not just the experts asking questions, but the real people of Colorado asking questions about the issues improtant to them," Dezzutti said.

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