Mike Bryan -- Our very own Hellraiser!!!
Independents excluded from tonight’s debate: Mike Bryan says he was shut out of event
By Kirsten Stanley/The Ironton Tribune
Thursday, October 5, 2006 10:09 AM CDT
The Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting an evening of debates between local candidates tonight at Ohio University Southern, but one candidate will not be in attendance, and he says it is not by his choice.
Mike Bryan, the independent candidate for 89th District state representative, says he is being unfairly shut out of tonight’s debate because of his party affiliation. Bryan’s opponents, incumbent Democrat Todd Book and Republican Tim Knauff, are scheduled to attend.
Bryan said the chamber initially told him that, since he was on the ballot, he would be allowed to participate. But, on Tuesday, he was told that the debate was for Democrats and Republicans only.
Jack Borders, director of the chamber, said it is a long-standing policy to include only major party candidates in the debates.
“We are just adhering to what we have done in the past,” he said. “We are not excluding anyone in particular. We are not doing this to exclude Mr. Bryan, it’s just a policy that we have.”
Bryan said the chamber’s position is unfair to him and the voters. He said leveling the playing field among all candidates is part of his platform.
“One of the major themes in my campaign is that the only way we’re ever going to see real progressive change in our country is to end the stranglehold the Democrats and Republicans have on our electoral and political systems.”
He said Democrats and Republicans go to great lengths to “protect the two-party system and keep the money flowing from their wealthy patrons.”
Bryan said the latest roadblock in his campaign does not surprise him. Many times, he said, third-party candidates face more hurdles and stiffer requirements than their counterparts. Bryan said he has been prohibited from participating in a debate in Adams County and that he and other third-party candidates have been deliberately left off Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell’s election Web site.
“Excluding independent candidates from the Web sites and debates has the effect of making the candidates look somehow less legitimate,” Bryan said.
Although Bryan will not be in attendance, most of the other candidates will be one hand for the debates.
Originally slated to begin at 5 p.m., the debates will now kick off at 6 p.m. with county commissioner candidates Democrat Doug Malone and Republican Bob Mao facing off.
At 6:45 p.m. Republican District 87 State Rep. Clyde Evans will take on Democrat Nick Rupert. The debate between Book and Knauff will follow.
District 17 State Senate candidates incumbent Republican John Carey and Democrat April Howland will debate at 7:45 p.m.
The evening will conclude with a debate between 6th District U. S. House of Representatives candidates Republican Chuck Blasdel and Democrat Charlie Wilson. The debate between the two will be one of the only chances locals will get to see them face off, Borders said.
During the debates, each candidate will give a two-minute opening statement. After that, the candidates will be asked questions and will be given a short amount of to respond. Many questions have already been turned in from the public and from chamber members, Borders said. Those attending the debates tonight will also have a chance to submit questions.
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