718 WEST 5th ST. AUSTIN, TEXAS 7870145717;5 Morning American-Statesman Austin, Texas SEP 3 0 1982 Clements, A debate between Gov. Bill Clements and Attorney General Mark White before the Dallas Press Club Friday has been canceled because their negotiators couldn't agree on a format. Each side blamed the other for the cancellation. Earlier this month, White's staff agreed to Clements' demands that the four debates be held before Oct. 16. The first was held Friday in Amarillo. White's people claimed the Clements group never sat down to negotiate details of the debates. Clements' spokesman said the White staff had deviated from an agreement that all debates would be un- der the same format — in a television stu- dio, with limited audience, and with questions and answers structured. Clements' spokesman Tony Garrett said Dallas Press Club officials were un- able to provide the studio, and "there was no guarantee of live television coverage." "The reason we couldn't get any televi- sion coverage is because they (Clements' staff) wouldn't sit down to work out the details," said David Doak of White's campaign. • • • Clements probably plans to vote for Democratic U.S. Lloyd Bentsen for re- election. The governor, who has always White cancel debate Political notes called himself a "Texas ticket splitter," said recently that lots of Texans split their ballot. "I have a favorite Democrat and I will be sure I will vote for im just like I have in many years gone by," Clements said. He declined to say which one, but the only statewide Democratic candidates for major races that have been on the bal- lot before are Bentsen, Lt. Gov. Bill Hob- by and Comptroller 13)1) Bullock. • • • Bentsen's campaign staff recently ran an ad in San Angelo, welcoming his oppo- nent, U.S. Rep. Jim Col ins, to the city and suggesting that he exilain to residents some of the proposals le has made to al- low businessmen to batk out of the Social Security System. Collins responded tha he'd be happy to answer those and otheriuestions, if Bent- sen would meet him inSan Angelo to de- bate them Oct. 3. Bentsen, who has carefully limited his joint appearances with Collins, will de- bate him on statewide public television Oct. 23, said Jack Martin, Bentsen's cam- paign manager. Stung by criticism from his Democra- tic opponent, Clements has written the state's utility regulatory agencies urging them to protect consumer interests when considering rate increases. In a statement made public Tuesday, Clements said the Public Utility Commis- sion and the Texas Railroad Commission must be sure "utility companies are giv- ing their customers full value for their rate dollar." At the same time, Clements' re-elec- tion opponent, Mark White, has been tell- ing voters that the governor "has consistently sided with the utility compa- nies" with pro-industry appointments to the PUC, which oversees telephone and electric rates. Members of the Railroad Commission are elected. The commission regulates natural gas utilities. Compiled by Dave McNeely