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WILKES-BARRE — Any hopes of a rapprochement and debate by the two candidates in the District B city council race appeared to disappear as the friction continued between their campaigns.

Last week Republican incumbent Tony Brooks considered facing Democratic challenger Mark Shaffer if undisclosed conditions were met. But they weren’t and a week later the two men traded accusations over who was responsible for widening the divide between them.

In a news release issued late Tuesday night Shaffer blamed Brooks.

“Sadly, Brooks has continued to sidestep my request by either ignoring calls and messages from members of my team, or by making bizarre demands that are completely unrelated to the campaign and irrelevant to the residents of District B,” Shaffer said.

In a follow-up email Wednesday Shaffer said Brooks wanted to meet and discuss “a falling out that his mother and someone who isn’t on the campaign team had almost two years ago.” Shaffer said he and his campaign team have full-time jobs and proposed that they talk by phone rather than over lunch as Brooks demanded.

“Essentially we’re tired of Tony manufacturing drama and then demanding we address his fake controversies before we have a debate,” Shaffer said. “We want the public to know that he continues to put ridiculous conditions on agreeing to a debate that go well beyond anything any reasonable campaign would agree to do, in what is an obvious attempt to distract and keep the focus off of the issues that effect our constituents.”

Shaffer added that he received an offer from a neutral third party to moderate the debate and the invitation still stands for him and Brooks to let residents hear from the candidates “on the issues and opportunities facing our city.”

Brooks on Wednesday responded that Shaffer and his campaign were at fault.

“Our campaign team made a simple request to meet and sit down with their campaign team – and they refused. We wanted to air our deep concerns in private over the toxic environment created and heal the hurt caused on both sides,” Brooks said in an email.

“We could have set an example on how campaigns (sic) teams can accept apologies and move forward in civility. I’m deeply saddened that’s not the case,” Brooks said.

Mark Shaffer, Democratic candidate for Wilkes-Barre city council District B. Submitted photo
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_shaffer-3.jpg.optimal.jpgMark Shaffer, Democratic candidate for Wilkes-Barre city council District B. Submitted photo

Tony Brooks, Republican incumbent for Wilkes-Barre city council District B. Times Leader file photo
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL122918Museum_3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgTony Brooks, Republican incumbent for Wilkes-Barre city council District B. Times Leader file photo
W-B CITY COUNCIL ELECTION

By Jerry Lynott

[email protected]

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott