Tom Waring, the Wire
Brian Fitzpatrick, the Republican candidate in the 8th Congressional District, issued the following statement regarding a Positivity Pledge and debates:
“I am glad my opponent (Democrat Steve Santarsiero) followed our lead and finally joined our call to run a positive campaign free from personal attacks and negativity, after two months of mounting public pressure.
“With that behind us, our community now has a unique opportunity to be a model for how campaigns for Congress should be run. I hope that my opponent does not break this promise to the voters.
“The issues that 8th District residents are talking to me about are protecting our national security, getting our economy working for everybody and combating fraud, waste, abuse and corruption in government.
“I will debate my opponent every day from now until Election Day if he so chooses, where we can discuss our experience, our respective records of accomplishment and our vision for the future with the voters.”
Fitzpatrick issued a Civility Pledge on March 4. On March 15, Santarsiero offered, but never signed, a civility pledge. Santarsiero defeated Shaughnessy Naughton in a nasty primary.
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Meanwhile, Santarsiero is pledging to run a civil campaign and introduced a stronger debate schedule than Fitzpatrick’s original proposal to delay debates until the fall.
Santarsiero made the following promise to voters: “We pledge to conduct a civil and respectful campaign that focuses on the issues and avoids personal and defamatory attacks. And we call upon our opponent and all other organizations who may get involved in the race — on either side — to follow our lead.”
Santarsiero said that calls for civility should not be used by candidates to duck discussion on topics critical to voters selecting their next congressman.
“Issues ranging from climate change, and Brian’s position questioning the science behind it, to the best way to advance women’s health, to the circumstances surrounding Brian’s entry into the race and the fact that he was not a resident of the state just weeks before announcing his candidacy are legitimate questions and the voters deserve to hear them discussed,” he said. “The fact that we may have different positions on these issues does not mean that debate on them cannot be conducted in a civil and respectful manner.”
The Santarsiero campaign is proposing debates beginning immediately, with at least one a month.
“The time is now to begin debating the issues. This race is too important to wait until the closing weeks of the campaign to give voters unfiltered access to the candidates’ positions. We propose we begin debating this month, with at least one debate following every month between now and Nov. 8,” said Santarsiero’s campaign manager, Eric Goldman. “We invite the local press corps to join both candidates and serve as moderators of the first debate.”
