Democratic Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton's challenger for the 125th District seat, Republican Tom Reynolds, says Lifton is avoiding meeting him in a debate setting. Lifton's campaign says she is very willing to have a public debate with Reynolds.
Reynolds said: "We need to get together and say, 'Here are the issues,' go through our positions and tell what we have done in our lives or haven't done. She has a lot to defend, and she doesn't want to do that."
Lifton's campaign manager Krys Cail said Lifton has accepted every offer for a debate or meet-the-candidates forum extended from community groups. Scheduled events include the following:
* A 10 a.m. Sept. 25 candidates forum at the Cortland Elks Club sponsored by the Cortland League of Women Voters and other groups,
* A 7 p.m. Oct. 7 debate in Tompkins County sponsored by the Tompkins County League of Women Voters and the Ithaca Journal. The location is to be announced.
* An 8 a.m. Oct. 19 meet-the-candidates breakfast in Cortland at a restaurant to be announced, sponsored by the Cortland Chamber of Commerce and open to the public.
Another meet-the-candidates event will be held at the Trumansburg Fire Hall, though a date has not been set.
Reynolds says he challenged Lifton on Aug. 18 to meet him in six debates -- four in Tompkins and two in Cortland -- but Lifton has only agreed to one, in the City of Ithaca.
The meet-the-candidates events don't count as debates, Reynolds said, because they will not involve in-depth discussion of campaign issues and each candidate will only have a few minutes to speak to the public.
Cail said: "We are more than happy to participate in debate events. We are, however, running a campaign and we feel it would be a conflict of interest for us to organize an event ... because we are not impartial."
Debates are typically organized by community groups, which invite candidates to participate, she said.
Reynolds said: "That's politics as usual. We've got an unusual situation here in New York, and we're going downhill. She wants to continue doing the same old thing, including the debates."
It would not be difficult to find community sponsors, Reynolds said.
"She's ducking. She's trying to avoid standing up in front of the public and defending what she's done."
