Come to the North Country debate, Mr. Hoffman

An open letter to Doug Hoffman, Conservative,

On Wednesday, October 28th, a coalition of groups including NCPR will host a debate at SUNY Plattsburgh between the candidates running for the 23rd House district seat.

The event at 5pm will be held before a live audience. It’s the only debate currently scheduled inside the district. It’s the only debate that will be held in a public setting.

Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens have confirmed that they will participate.

So far, you and your campaign have not signed on, despite repeated requests.

Put bluntly, it is absolutely imperative that you be there for the voters of this district.

They deserve a chance to see all three of their choices in an open forum accepting questions from journalists and the public.

I’ve been party to efforts to arrange two other forums in the district and your campaign has demonstrated a clear reluctance to participate.

Questions are also growing about the fact that you live outside the district.

Some critics suggest that you have a thin track record of involvement with or knowledge of many of the issue and concerns that face the region.

Your campaign has focused instead on flat taxes and ACORN.

Fair enough, but we also want to ask you about rural healthcare delivery, care for our soldiers returning from the wars, and education funding.

We also want to see you demonstrate in a long-format and public setting that you can think on your feet, without the packaging and handling that has shaped much of this campaign.

It’s important to note that you’re not the only candidate in this race who’s been “packaged” by national forces.

Democrats and Republicans in Washington DC are pulling a lot of strings, too.

But Mr. Owens and Ms. Scozzafava will be at this debate. By agreeing to take your proper place on the podium, you — like they — will put many of those concerns to rest.

As one of the co-moderators, I can assure you that the tone will be challenging and rigorous, but also respectful and scrupulously fair.

You’ve begun a remarkable political journey. It’s time to strike a balance between the national movement that has adopted you and the local voters who you will serve if elected.

Respectfully,

Brian Mann
Reporter & Adirondack bureau chief