The two candidates for the 18th District State Senate seat, three-term Democratic incumbent Andrew Maynard of Stonington and Republican Theresa Madonna of Griswold, have agreed to a series of four debates next month.

The debates  will be held in Groton, Plainfield, Stonington and Griswold, four of the eight towns in the district. The others are North Stonington, Sterling, Voluntown and Preston.

The dates, times and locations of the debates will be announced in the coming weeks as the two campaigns work out the details.

In a press release this morning, Madonna said she called Maynard Friday to suggest the four debates and he accepted her challenge.

“I look forward to the opportunity to share my ideas about what is best for the State and Southeastern Connecticut. One-party rule has cost this district dearly over the past two years in the form of a record tax increase, ballooning debt, and significant job loss.  Unfortunately, Senator Maynard is part of that problem, and while I’m grateful that he has agreed to these debates, I think voters will see that the senator and I have very different ideas about the role of government,” she said in the release.

This morning Maynard said, “I very much look forward to engaging Theresa in a discussions about the issues facing the district and the state and I’m grateful she is willing to do it.”

Earlier this month Maynard and Madonna spent one hour debating the issues during a forum sponsored by The Day at the Groton Public Library.