Sen. Peter Oberacker, candidate for Congress in New York’s 19th District, challenged Congressman Josh Riley to a series of 11 debates—one in each county of the district—beginning the week of August 24 and continuing weekly through the final week before Election Day, November 3.

“This district runs from the Catskills to the Southern Tier to the edge of the Capital region, and every county in it deserves the chance to see both of us stand up, answer hard questions, and be held accountable, rather than just watching 30-second ads paid for by people who don’t live here,” Oberacker said. “I’m calling on Congressman Riley to give the voters of NY-19 11 opportunities to see us side by side and decide for themselves. No scripted press conferences. No stage-managed photo-ops. A real debate over real issues affecting our constituents.”

Oberacker’s campaign proposes one debate per week in each of the district’s 11 counties: Broome, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Rensselaer, Sullivan, Tompkins and Ulster, running from the week of August 24 through the week of October 26, concluding the week before Election Day.

To keep the debates focused on voters rather than logistics, the campaign is proposing the following ground rules:

At least half held in person. Of the 11 debates, no fewer than six will be held in person, in the county they represent, open to the public and press.

A real exchange, not parallel press conferences. Each debate must include direct time for the candidates to question and respond to each other on the issues NY19 voters care about and not just answer a moderator in sequence.

One dedicated to agriculture. At least one debate will be held at a working farm, fairgrounds or grange hall, focused specifically on the issues facing the district’s farmers, including land use, foreign solar companies, labor, input costs, conservation and the future of family farms in NY19.

At least one debate will focus specifically on the cost of living in NY19, including utility bills, rate increases, taxes and household budgets under pressure.

Neutral local hosts. Each debate will be organized with a local, nonpartisan co-host in that county responsible for format and moderation, so neither campaign controls the room. For example: a library, chamber of commerce, civic organization and/or local news outlet.

A fixed, public format. Equal speaking time, agreed to in advance, with opening and closing statements and a live audience Q&A segment in each county.

An open invitation to local and regional press, so voters who can’t attend in person can still see the debate.

“We chose these rules because we don’t think debates should be about ‘gotchas’ or theatrics,” Oberacker said. “They should be about giving people a real look at where we stand, regardless of where they live and especially on the issues closest to home: what it costs to keep the lights on, how much it costs to fill up their truck, what it takes to keep a family farm running, and who actually has a say over decisions made in their own backyard.”

The Oberacker campaign formally extended the challenge to the Riley campaign today and asked for a response by August 17. The campaign has begun reaching out to local civic organizations, farm bureaus and news outlets in each of the district’s 11 counties this week to secure venues. Oberacker has agreed to all invitations thus far.

www.peterforny19.com
Schenevus, NY