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THE FIRST OF THE two scheduled televised debates between Singer and Fiore took place that night. It was sponsored by The League of Women Voters and held in Sayles Hall on the Brown University campus. Each side received 200 complimentary tickets to hand out to its supporters. A limited number of Brown students with ID cards were allowed to attend.

All the questions were put to the candidates by three panelists. One of the two men was a senior editor at the Newport Record, the other a political reporter for the Pawtucket Evening Times. The third participant was the very popular female member of the WPRI-TV twin anchor team in Providence.

None of the panelists referred specifically to Jenna Richardson’s front page story that day. A decision was reached earlier to refrain from questions that might cause the debate to deteriorate into charges and countercharges. As a result, no one interrogated Fiore directly about his relationship with the Tarantino family.

However, the Evening Times reporter attempted to get at the issue in a different way. “Would you tell us, Mr. Fiore, why you’re opposed to casino style gaming under State auspices when that’s the same stand that the gambling interests in Rhode Island obviously favor.”

Fiore’s reply was identical to what he was telling audiences around the State and to what he said in radio and newspaper interviews throughout the campaign. “That kind of gambling encourages decadence and would stifle Rhode Island’s economic growth in many ways,” he answered, enumerating the list of negatives, one by one. “It’s only happenstance,” he continued, “that what’s best for the hard-working citizens of this State turns out to be good business for those who cater to people with a need to gamble.”

Fiore delivered the answer in the most emotional tone he could raise. He then added, gratuitously, that as far as he was concerned, the campaign stories that appeared in the Providence Herald that week were one reporter’s “flights of fantasy.” Despite the announcement before the debate began that applause for any candidate was prohibited, Fiore’s supporters registered strong approval of his remarks. The moderator again admonished the audience to refrain from such conduct.

At the conclusion of the 90-minute program, Fiore walked across the stage to shake hands with Singer. Cyril Berman had informed him in their debate preparation that the viewers always gave a point or two to the candidate who appeared the more sociable. While Doug was still smiling and talking to Singer, Grace and their daughter joined him. He kissed and embraced both of them. That was part of Berman’s scenario also, as soon as he learned from Fiore that in all probability Carol Singer would not be present.

The Fiore family broke away from Singer and moved to the other end of the stage to greet supporters. Soon after, Rachel and Bonnie Singer, both of whom came home from college for the event, reached their father’s side and offered their congratulations with kisses. But the single pool camera covering the post-debate proceedings stayed with the more photogenic Fiores for the better part of another minute before switching back to local programming at each of the three major channels. News anchors began soliciting various opinions from around the State as to which of the candidates came out on top. Thirty minutes later, consensus called it a draw and Cyril Berman was a happy man.