By Dan Murphy
Are political debates fast becoming a thing of the past? The Westchester League of Women Voters, LWV, longtime sponsors of candidate forums in Westchester County, announced on Sept. 27 that they were cancelling their upcoming forums for County Executive and County Clerk because of a lack of participation of the republican candidate for County Executive Christine Sculti, and the GOP candidate for County Clerk, Scooter Scott.
The Democratic candidates in both races, incumbent Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Westchester County Clerk both accepted the League of Women Voters’ invitation to participate, but the organization’s policy requires at least two participants for a candidates forum to be held.l
“It is disappointing that the residents of Westchester County will not be able to hear the candidates in these two county-wide races discuss their views on the issues of importance to all of us. League Candidates Forums are an opportunity to hear from the candidates in a calm, respectful, nonpartisan setting that encourages civil discourse,” League of Women Voters President Kathy Meany said in a statement announcing the cancellation of the events. “The Forums have even greater importance today when candidates’ options for making themselves known to their constituents are greatly curtailed.”
Meany urged Westchester County voters to “contact the candidates via email and social media to urge them to reconsider their decisions not to participate.”
No comment yet from Sculti or Scott’s campaign. County Executive Latimer and County Clerk Tim Idoni both reiterated their interest in participating in debates.
In recent years, some republicans have been reluctant to participate in LWV debates for what some believe is a democratic bias in some forums against republican candidates.
But as one westchester republican told us, “You have to participate in any and all debates to get your message out and hope for a newsworthy event or slip up from your opponent. Especially, if you are the challenger, you have to get into any exchange you can with County Exec. Latimer and County Clerk Idoni. It’s kind of like waiving the white flag not to do so.”
