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October 6, 2004
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The following article appeared in the October 5, 2004 edition of The Cape Cod Times.
10th district debate elusive
By Kevin Dennehy, Staff Writer
With just four weeks until election day, Republican candidate Mike Jones says U.S. Rep. William Delahunt is ducking his requests for a public face-to-face debate.
No debate has been scheduled between Delahunt, a Quincy Democrat seeking his fifth term as representative for the 10th congressional district, and Jones, a 31-year-old Republican making his first run at public office.
The GOP challenger, who admits he's running an underdog effort, complains that Delahunt is cutting an important element from the democratic process.
"Imagine if the president said, 'I'm not going to debate an opponent,'" said Jones, a congressional lobbyist and public relations professional from Plymouth.
"He has an obligation as a public official to come to the public stage and debate so voters have an opportunity to hear our positions on the issues."
At least one media outlet has been trying to arrange a meeting between the candidates since August. WATD, the Duxbury-based news radio station, has scheduled debates for 10 races affecting the Plymouth area, said Christine James, managing editor.
But when she asked Delahunt personally, she said she was told he didn't have time.
"We're getting a feeling that they're not interested in having any kind of public forum," she said. "If he's really that good, he should be willing to do that. We're not asking for that much time."
Steve Schwadron, a Delahunt aide, said yesterday that while the congressman has had a busy schedule recently - from his congressional work in Washington to appearances locally - a public debate remains likely.
"We certainly have (participated in debates) in the past, and I would assume there would be a debate this time around," Schwadron said.
Jones suggested that the congressman is either frightened of defending his record or taking the race lightly.
"That thought," Schwadron responded, "hasn't even dawned on me."
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