2011 Luzerne County Elections

10th congressional district race

September 30, 2008

Another debate invitation issued

Hackett to attend event at Honesdale H.S., but Carney won’t, spokesmen say.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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The publisher of a small Wayne County newspaper has scheduled a debate Saturday night at Honesdale High School and offered invitations to U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Twp., and his Republican challenger Chris Hackett. Hackett plans to attend but Carney does not, according to spokesmen for both campaigns.

The issue of debates between the 10th Congressional District opponents has been a key focus of the Hackett camp, which has tried to shame Carney for not accepting invitations to debate from numerous television stations and organizations.

An Oct. 30 debate between Carney and Hackett will be broadcast live on PCN and WVIA, but Hackett has asked for up to eight more debates. Carney hasn’t accepted and his campaign manager, Vincent Rongione, said the WVIA broadcast will reach homes throughout the district. He has also countered that Carney has held town hall meetings in all 14 counties in the district during his first term and has shared his views on the issues many times.

Steve Fountain, publisher of The Wayne Independent, agreed with Hackett that one debate in a district as large as the 10th is not enough. He said that with so many issues facing voters, one debate wouldn’t give voters enough information. Fountain also took issue with town hall meetings being used in place of debates.

Earlier this month, Fountain issued an open invitation to both campaigns to debate in Wayne County. Hackett immediately accepted but Carney declined.

“There’s a lot of stuff we need to do and not enough time,” Rongione said. “There’s a debate scheduled and we’re eager to participate. We chose the format that most constituents will have an opportunity to hear and see it.”

That’s not sitting well with Fountain. “They (Carney campaign) just seem very comfortable that one single debate would be sufficient and I humbly disagree with them.”

After hearing feedback from the newspaper’s readers, Fountain was even more determined to hold a debate.

In a letter sent to both campaigns Friday, Fountain wrote: “I remain convinced that more than one debate is needed for voters …You are both invited. If you both show up, we will have a debate. If one of you shows up, we will switch to a town hall forum. If neither of you show, I am in for a long evening.”

He said the invitation remains open to Carney but if Hackett is the only candidate to show up Saturday, the Republican will have the stage to himself for two hours. Fountain said he’ll ask Hackett questions sent by Wayne County residents for about 45 minutes, and allow audience members to pepper Hackett with questions for about an hour.

Hackett campaign manager Mark Harris said he hopes to see Carney Saturday night because “the voters deserve to hear Carney’s views on the issues.”

Wayne County leans heavily Republican in registered voters – 17,055 to 10,411 as of Monday -- but Carney held his own when he defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood for the seat in 2006, losing Wayne by less than 500 votes.

Fountain, a registered Independent, said politics does not come into play in his decision to press the debate issue.

“I’m not trying to do this as a stunt for the Republican Party. I’m trying to flush out a democratic process that’s in the best interest of voters,” Fountain said.

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269.

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