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To: U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, Democrat
Chris Hackett, Republican challenger
From Steve Fountain, Publisher, Wayne Independent
Dear Rep. Carney and Mr. Hackett:
I have been in contact with both of your camps regarding holding a candidates' debate in Wayne County. It seemed simple enough: get both of you in the same place at the same time to debate the issues. Yet, only one camp to date has accepted.
In the spirit of fairness, I won't say at this time who accepted our offer.
In speaking with the camp that declined, I was told that they felt a single debate (Oct. 30 on WVIA-TV) was sufficient because of the reach of WVIA. “But is one debate enough for voters?” I asked. I was again told the campaign was “confident in the reach offered by WVIA.”
As a registered independent and Publisher of The Independent, I must respectfully disagree.
Democracy needs more than what voters have received thus far from both sides: advertising blitzes, sound bites and single-candidate controlled “listening sessions” or “town hall meetings” or whatever may be the latest warm-and-fuzzy campaign jargon for such one-sided events.
Democracy needs open, vigorous debates - plural, not singular -- highlighted by face-to-face meetings.
The Wayne Independent was founded 130 years ago to provide an independent voice amid the partisan rancor of two rival publications.
I humbly draw upon this tradition and history in offering to host a debate.
Rep. Carney and Mr. Hackett, I respectfully and formally ask you to join me in Wayne County for a debate any weekend between Sept. 20-21 and Oct. 18-19. That's five weekends to choose from. It will be a two-hour format, with the first hour having me ask questions. The second hour, following a 20-minute break, would feature questions submitted by the audience.
Are weekends bad for either of you? Give me dates that work. Do you want TV on board? I will make it happen. You want radio on board? Done. Webcast? Just ask. Or, do you want it just to be an informal newspaper event? No problem. Just let me know.
I believe our little slice of heaven would be an ideal place for a debate between the candidates for the 10th Congressional Seat. Wayne County, I believe, reflects the myriad of opportunities and challenges facing many of the rural communities and small towns in the district.
In advance of the debate, I will offer you each one full page in this paper for your unfiltered and response to The Independent's basic biographical and positional questionnaire. We will not edit your answers. They will run in full within the framework of respective single pages. Such an approach is about us getting as much information to our readers as we can.
I look forward to hearing from you. My number is (570) 253-3055. Or, you can e-mail me at sfountain@wayneindependent.com.
Thank you. I look forward to seeing you in Wayne County!
Steve Fountain
To: U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, Democrat
Chris Hackett, Republican challenger
From Steve Fountain, Publisher, Wayne Independent
Dear Rep. Carney and Mr. Hackett:
I have been in contact with both of your camps regarding holding a candidates' debate in Wayne County. It seemed simple enough: get both of you in the same place at the same time to debate the issues. Yet, only one camp to date has accepted.
In the spirit of fairness, I won't say at this time who accepted our offer.
In speaking with the camp that declined, I was told that they felt a single debate (Oct. 30 on WVIA-TV) was sufficient because of the reach of WVIA. “But is one debate enough for voters?” I asked. I was again told the campaign was “confident in the reach offered by WVIA.”
As a registered independent and Publisher of The Independent, I must respectfully disagree.
Democracy needs more than what voters have received thus far from both sides: advertising blitzes, sound bites and single-candidate controlled “listening sessions” or “town hall meetings” or whatever may be the latest warm-and-fuzzy campaign jargon for such one-sided events.
Democracy needs open, vigorous debates - plural, not singular -- highlighted by face-to-face meetings.
The Wayne Independent was founded 130 years ago to provide an independent voice amid the partisan rancor of two rival publications.
I humbly draw upon this tradition and history in offering to host a debate.
Rep. Carney and Mr. Hackett, I respectfully and formally ask you to join me in Wayne County for a debate any weekend between Sept. 20-21 and Oct. 18-19. That's five weekends to choose from. It will be a two-hour format, with the first hour having me ask questions. The second hour, following a 20-minute break, would feature questions submitted by the audience.
Are weekends bad for either of you? Give me dates that work. Do you want TV on board? I will make it happen. You want radio on board? Done. Webcast? Just ask. Or, do you want it just to be an informal newspaper event? No problem. Just let me know.
I believe our little slice of heaven would be an ideal place for a debate between the candidates for the 10th Congressional Seat. Wayne County, I believe, reflects the myriad of opportunities and challenges facing many of the rural communities and small towns in the district.
In advance of the debate, I will offer you each one full page in this paper for your unfiltered and response to The Independent's basic biographical and positional questionnaire. We will not edit your answers. They will run in full within the framework of respective single pages. Such an approach is about us getting as much information to our readers as we can.
I look forward to hearing from you. My number is (570) 253-3055. Or, you can e-mail me at sfountain@wayneindependent.com.
Thank you. I look forward to seeing you in Wayne County!
Steve Fountain
