DiNicola wants debates with Kelly
Congressional candidate Ron DiNicola wants to debate incumbent Congressman Mike Kelly, but doesn't like the fact that Kelly scheduled three debates without consulting him or civil and public interest groups and news media, which may be interested in hosting debates.
Earlier this week Kelly issued a statement saying he invited DiNicola more than six weeks ago to three debates, but he hadn't agreed to participate.
Kelly said the three “confirmed” debates have been scheduled for Oct. 8 at Mercyhurst University in Mercer County, Oct. 16 at Grove City College in Mercer County and Oct. 30 at Butler County Community College.
The three sites are in the three media markets in the newly formed 16th District, which DiNicola is challenging Kelly for.
“I maintain my pledge to speak to the constituents of Pennsylvania 16th Congressional District in an open forum,” Kelly said. “These debates will give voters the opportunity to hear how the candidates differ on the issues if my opponent shows up. If my opponent is going to refuse to speak to the people then he should just say he's not participating and get it over with.”
Not so fast, DiNicola's campaign said.
Thursday DiNicola called upon Kelly to negotiate in good faith to schedule debates in the five counties that comprise the 16th District and urged the news media and citizens to help determine dates and locations for the debates.
He also said Kelly declined an invitation to a debate from the League of Women Voters.
“We were disappointed to learn that Congressman Kelly declined a debate invitation from the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization formed before women were given the right to vote, but remain hopeful that his campaign will negotiate in good faith a debate schedule that will provide residents in each county an opportunity to hear our platforms,” DiNicola said. “Congressman Kelly's premature attempts to dictate and limit the debate schedule to three debates on dates and locations of his own choosing robs voters of the opportunity to hear a real exchange of ideas on the many critical issues that impact their lives.”The newly drawn 16th District includes all of Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Lawrence counties and most of western Butler County.DiNicola's campaign provided a copy of a June 6 letter from Kelly saying he scheduled the three debates and confirmed the availability of each venue on those dates.In a June 8 response letter DiNicola said, “However, in my view, before setting the dates and locations for debates, it is important to allow for broader input from news organizations, public interest groups and other civic bodies who may have an interest in hosting or sponsoring debates or town-hall style forums. Further, I believe three debates would fall short of allowing many in the district a sufficient opportunity to compare and contrast our positions and plans for the future.“Accordingly, rather than having one candidate dictate the dates, location, and number of debates unilaterally, I suggest we allow for a reasonable period of time for other organizations to offer proposals in this regard,” DiNicola said in the letter.
