Halvorson, Kinzinger release statements on their debates for the 11th Congressional race

The 2010 race for the Illinois 11th Congressional District between incumbent Democrat Debbie Halvorson and Republican challenger Adam Kinzinger is heating up.

The 11th Congressional district includes Kankakee County:


Map from halvorson.house.gov

Halvorson and Kinzinger are scheduled to participate in 3 debates.  The way the debates are described in press releases by the two campaigns is noticeably different.

11th Congressional District Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson released the following statement on her website regarding debates between herself and Kinzinger:
"9/3/2010

Halvorson Announces Debate Schedule

Halvorson will take part in three debates: She and her opponent will appear together before the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on October 5th for a joint endorsement session that will be posted online, a second meeting at Illinois State University in Normal, IL on October 12th; and a third debate hosted by WCMY-AM in Ottawa, IL on October 13th."

Kinzinger's website had a much longer and more detailed description of the debates.  Press release regarding 11th Congressional District Debates from Adam Kinzinger's website:

"Sep 7, 2010

Halvorson dodges open debates

Incumbent not interested in standing before public

 NEW LENOX – Just as she dodged constituents and Town Hall meetings while supporting the massive federal stimulus bill and health care reform, Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson is once again doing her very best to avoid public contact by ducking open debates with Republican challenger Adam Kinzinger.

 

The incumbent Congresswoman waited two months and a Congressional recess to pass before agreeing to any joint appearances with Kinzinger, and then sought to hide her evasion with a press release Friday “announcing” her participation in three “debates.” But the statement fails to mention that two of the three meetings are closed to the public (Chicago Tribune Editorial Board – Oct. 5 and WCMY AM Radio, Ottawa – Oct. 13) or that Kinzinger had requested at least six debates to be held in every region of the District.

 

Under the Halvorson schedule, no public debates would be held in Bureau, Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston, Will or Woodford Counties – which combined account for more than 85 percent of the District.

 

“Congresswoman Halvorson has made it clear that she has little interest in debates, and even less in standing before the public,” said Kinzinger, who specifically requested a series of debates to be held during the six-week Congressional recess that ends September 10. “This is her opportunity to set the record straight and explain once and for all why she has voted for Speaker Pelosi’s agenda 93 percent of the time. There is still time to schedule more public meetings before Election Day, and I am hope the Congresswoman will reconsider.”

 

Kinzinger wrote to Halvorson more than eight weeks ago, requesting that their campaigns work together to identify mutually-acceptable dates, formats and sponsors for a minimum of six public debates in different regions of the 11th Congressional District. Kinzinger suggested the meetings take place during the Congressional Recess period in August and early September.

 

Halvorson ignored the request. When pushed by media she explained that she had a “huge job to do” in her official role before turning her attention to politics. The Congresswoman proceeded to fly-in House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for a campaign fundraiser that very week. She then found time for three separate campaign appearances with Sen. Dick Durbin in early August, and to attend an Illinois fundraiser with President Obama.

 

In renewing his request for additional debates Monday, Kinzinger asked Halvorson to place the same priority on scheduling joint-appearances as she has on her negative campaign to discredit his challenge and save her job.

                        

 “It is disappointing to have a Representative who is more interested in engaging in personal attacks and cheap shots than an open, honest debate in front of the people she represents,” Kinzinger said. “It speaks volumes not only about the Halvorson campaign, but about what is wrong with Washington today – and why it is so important to shake things up on November 2, 2010.”

 

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kankakeecountynews will make sure to look for the Oct. 5th debates to be posted online and share them on this site as soon as possible so voters can get a chance to hear from both candidates.