ASHEVILLE – The head of the local Republican Party and a Democratic state senator from Charlotte will debate whether North Carolina should spend more on public education here Saturday.

Carl Mumpower, chairman of the Buncombe County GOP and a former city councilman, issued an open challenge in June to debate any public issue at a debate organized by political or neighborhood groups. Sen. Jeff Jackson, D-Mecklenburg, is the first to take him up on the offer.

Mumpower says the challenge is an effort to raise awareness of Republicans and their position on issues and "to up the level of political civility in constructive fashion."

Jeff Rose, chairman of the county Democratic Party, said Jackson saw a news article about Mumpower's invitation and decided to participate.

Jackson praised the initiative in a statement, saying, "We have a chance to show that in a highly politicized country, we can still have a respectful, civil discussion about core issues."

"Public education is at the center of North Carolina's communities and economy," Jackson said. "I can't think of a more important topic to discuss – how we invest in education will have a profound impact on our state for decades to come."

The resolution to be debated will be, "Should North Carolina increase investment in public education?" Jackson will argue "yes" and Mumpower will say "no."

North Carolina teachers have gotten significant raises in recent years via state budgets passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly. However, state figures say that after the effects of inflation are taken into account, North Carolina's per-pupil spending on schools fell by 9.2 percent from 2007-08 to 2015-16.

Mumpower's challenge comes with a $100 donation to the charity of his opponents' choice. Jackson's office said he has chosen Buncombe Partnership for Children, a nonprofit which works to improve pre-K education and health in the county, and will match it with another $100.

Mumpower said he has accepted three other debate invitations so far, from local groups involved in climate change and marijuana issues and a Young Democrats group in Winston-Salem.

The Buncombe County Democratic Party is hosting the debate. It will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium of Vance Elementary School, 98 Sulphur Springs Road.