Health insurance, the Iraq war, energy, immigration reform, social security –  candidates will tackle these issues and more at a fifth congressional district debate at UMass Lowell on Monday, August 27, in Durgin Hall.

This final primary debate will be hosted by the fifth district’s former congressman and UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan and moderated by WBZ radio personality Gary LaPierre. Both Republicans and the five Democrats in the race will question each other, as well as take questions from journalists, bloggers, and community representatives. Republicans will begin at 5:30 p.m., while Democrats will take the stage at 7 p.m.

Performances in the debate – to take place just four days before Labor Day weekend -- could be a deciding factor for voters as they head to the polls September 4.

Meehan served the fifth district for 14 years, having resigned in July to assume the helm of UMass Lowell. "I wanted to provide this forum -- an unedited look at all the primary candidates - so that voters can make an intelligent choice," he said. "A key role for the University is to promote civic engagement. This event will do just that."

WBZ Newsradio, LTC, the Lowell Sun, and the UMass Lowell Political Science Club are co-sponsoring the event. LTC will air the debate on Channel 8 as will WUML 91.5 FM. All sponsors will stream it from their Web sites: WBZ.com, lowellsun.com, ltc.org and uml.edu. LTC’s Web site also will offer free downloads, after the debate.

LaPierre is an award-winning longtime morning co-anchor for WBZ NewsRadio 1030. He has received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Radio Newscast and the lifetime Achievement Award from the March of Dimes Achievement in Radio Organization.

WBZ radio’s Carl Stevens, the Lowell Sun’s Matt Murphy and Latoyia Edwards of New England Cable News are among the journalists who will quiz the candidates. Stevens is an award-winning general assignment reporter for WBZ NewsRadio 1030, with a long career in radio and TV, while Murphy, a Dracut native, covers state politics and the fifth district congressional race for the Sun. Murphy recently received the Morley S. Piper First Amendment Award. Edwards recently joined the NECN family as the morning reporter. Prior to that, she anchored weekday programming for the NBC affiliate WWLP-22 in Springfield.

Tickets are free and available at the Office of Public Affairs, Cumnock C7, UML North; Durgin Hall 106, UML South; and at the Lowell Sun. Tickets will also be available at the door. Visit www.uml.edu/debate for more information.