"We must stay the course."

"We need a change in Washington."

"It's about people, not politics."

Yes, it's campaign time once again, and politicians have dusted off their tired cliches. We're being inundated with rhetoric, with attack ads and mailings taking actions and statements out of context, with slick commercials offering little or no real substance, with "robocalls" that reportedly contain falsehoods.

"I'm (insert candidate's name here) and I approve this message."

In a political season that seems to have started earlier than usual, this onslaught of superficiality, repetition and misrepresentation is discouraging and tiresome. At least here in the 4th Congressional District this year, voters have plenty of opportunities to go to the source for their information, to get it "straight from the horse's mouth," so to speak, and to see how well the candidates think on their feet.

In the race one of the most hotly contested in Connecticut and one of the most closely watched in the nation the Republican incumbent, Christopher Shays, now faces a trio of challengers. Democrat Diane Farrell, the former first selectwoman of Westport, who lost her bid for the seat two years ago by a narrow margin, is hot on the heels of the longtime congressman once more. In August, Greenwich Libertarian Phil Maymin received his party's nomination, and earlier this month Green Party candidate Richard Duffee learned that the secretary of the state's office had confirmed the number of registered voters' signatures necessary for his name to appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Shays and Farrell have agreed to 11 debates throughout the district. The first is scheduled to take place Oct. 4 at the Stamford Marriott Hotel, 243 Tresser Blvd., following a luncheon hosted by The Business Council of Fairfield County. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m., the luncheon will take place from noon to 1 p.m., and the debate will start at 1 p.m. and conclude by 2 p.m. The cost is $55 per person. Registration information can be obtained by calling the council at 359-3220.

Subsequent debates will take place on:

Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at Norwalk Community College, 188 Richards Ave., sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the University of Connecticut Stamford branch, 1 University Place, sponsored by the World Affairs Forum.

Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. at Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, sponsored by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.

Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at B'nai Israel, 2710 Park Ave., Bridgeport, sponsored by the Jewish Center for Community Services.

Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel, 14 Coleytown Road, Westport, sponsored by Temple Israel.

Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, sponsored by the university.

Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn, 1070 Main St., sponsored by AARP Connecticut.

Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Road, sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Oct. 18 at 8 a.m. at the Stamford Marriott Hotel, sponsored by the Stamford Chamber of Commerce.

Oct. 19 at 11:45 a.m. at the Norwalk Inn and Conference Center, 99 East Ave., sponsored by the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce and News 12.

Further information about these debates can be obtained by contacting the sponsoring organizations.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for Maymin said he will be in most, if not all, of the debates. He has received confirmation from The Business Council of Fairfield County, the League of Women Voters, the Jewish Center for Community Services and Temple Israel, and discussions are continuing with others, who are expected to make their decisions by the end of this month.

Duffee, however, said he was informed on Monday by the League of Women Voters and The Business Council of Fairfield County that he was not invited to participate in their debates because he has not shown sufficient financial resources and voter support. Although information on whether he will be allowed to take part in the other events was unavailable before press time, we think he should be. As he said in an e-mail, "It is not clear why what is sufficient for the Secretary of State to put a candidate on the ballot is not sufficient for private organizations to allow a candidate to debate."

Each of the candidates has a Web site where information about his or her background and priorities can be obtained. By visiting www.shaysforcongress.org, www.farrellforcongress.com, www.mayminforcongress.com and www.duffee.politicalgateway.com, voters will find more than just sound bites on what each candidate hopes to achieve in office.

Now is the time for voters to make sure they know just whom they're voting for and why.