Tom Watson to Debate Congresswoman Capps

Statement

Tom Watson, Republican candidate for Congress, issued the following statement this morning:

"I am pleased to accept the debate sponsored by KEYT and the Daily Sound for October 28th at the KEYT studios, and I greatly appreciate KEYT's and the Daily Sound's efforts to make this happen. They have performed a valuable public service, as candidates for public office should debate willingly and frequently.

However, having debates so near the end of the election, airing just two days before an election, is a stall tactic by our Congresswoman. It is disrespectful, cynical and typical Washington style politics that is an insult to the voters. The political reality is that more than half the people will have already voted by absentee ballot by then, which means it is further evidence of how out of touch Mrs. Capps is with her constituents, or it is a political ploy. Either way, it is shameful.

As of today, the candidates for Governor, United States Senate, and the Legislature have all had several debates. There is no excuse for our Congresswoman to avoid a fair airing of the issues until nearly the end.

And as of today, voters have started to receive their absentee ballots in the mail, and this Congressional District is one where about 60% of the people vote by early by absentee. That means before this debate occurs, more than half the voters in this district will already have made up their mind and voted.

While I look forward to the debates on the 23rd at Santa Barbara City College and now the 28th at KEYT, there is still a lot of time between now and then to have a debate about issues which are impacting our families, our communities and our jobs. Congresswoman Capps, let's talk."

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