The Bulletin: "Williams Criticizes Sestak's Debate Terms"

Press Release

The Bulletin: "Williams Criticizes Sestak's Debate Terms"

By Brad Visoli,

Craig Williams, a Republican congressional candidate, yesterday criticized the terms of a debate agreed to by his opponent, incumbent Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7th, of Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

Mr. Sestak and Mr. Williams will debate on Oct. 29, six days before Election Day, a much later date than the Republican would have preferred.

The two campaigns have discussed debating for much of the summer, but only the Williams campaign committed to a debate to be hosted by the Delaware County and Chester County chapters of the League of Women Voters (LMV) on Oct. 17. When debate negotiations were still in the works, the LMV, which will select the location and moderator for the forum, told The Bulletin the Sestak campaign did not act quickly enough to firm up the date.

"He said he wasn't afraid to debate," LMV member Mary Curran said of Mr. Sestak. The league initially felt it was "too late to get a place."

Mr. Williams said his campaign's attempts to get a debate scheduled with the congressman were persistent but were continuously refused.

"This is the arrogance of Joe Sestak we've come to expect," the Republican said. "He will dictate the terms. He will not be challenged."

When Mr. Sestak, a Navy veteran and former military procurement official, ran against longtime incumbent Republican Curt Weldon in 2006, he participated in two debates earlier in October that year. Mr. Williams, a Marine veteran and federal prosecutor, said Mr. Sestak should have extended to him the same opportunity.

The congressman's side points out, however, that Mr. Weldon faced numerous opponents with whom he did not debate.

"Over the past 10 years [in this district], we have only seen debates in one other election and that was last time with Joe Sestak," campaign spokeswoman April Mellody said in a statement. "This year we will benefit from the same amount face-to-face time as last election but the two-hour format allows for appropriate in-depth discussion of the important and complex issues that face our district."

Messrs. Sestak and Williams will debate from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 29, with an opening statement from each, a question-and-answer period and closing comments. The Williams campaign is dissatisfied with the stipulation, which Mr. Sestak pushed for, that response times last six minutes, thereby limiting the number of questions that can be raised that morning. Mr. Williams also said the two-hour length could dissuade radio and television outlets from running the debate.

The duration, Mr. Sestak counters, is appropriate to allow a full airing of relevant issues.

"While we understand that our opponent wanted less time for answers, we don't believe that allows for adequate time to address the complex and important issues that confront the 7th District," Ms. Mellody said. "We are delighted that the candidates will have the time to explore the subjects in-depth."

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