Insurance commissioner candidates Adam Hamm and Jasper Schneider will debate each other on KFYR 550 AM at 9 p.m. Oct. 21.

That debate will follow a candidate forum between Hamm and Schneider in Bismarck's City-County Building at 6 p.m. Oct. 15.

Before the Oct. 21 debate was scheduled, Democratic hopeful Schneider said last week that he had sent Hamm two letters in September asking his opponent to schedule more debates.

"Unfortunately, I have sent Adam Hamm two separate letters without receiving the professional courtesy of a reply," Schneider said in the press statement.

In response, Hamm said he had been in Washington, D.C., attending a conference for state insurance commissioners when the second letter was sent and that he always intended to debate Schneider throughout October.

"It's starting to reek of desperation a little bit from my opponent," Hamm said in response to Schneider's statement.

Both candidates have scheduled or are in the process of scheduling more debates around the state.

- Brian Duggan