October 20, 2015
Source/www.neumann.edu
A debate between the candidates for Delaware County Council, slated to be held at Neumann University's Mirenda Center, was canceled after the Democratic candidates withdrew.
Three Delaware County Democrats running for County Council have withdrawn from a debate scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Neumann University, citing a series of unresolved parameters.
Democrats Christine Reuther, Sharon Booker and Richard Womack Jr. notified the League of Women Voters Monday that they would not participate in the debate, Delco Democratic Party Chairman David Landau said.
The Democrats, who are facing incumbent Republicans Colleen Morrone, John McBlain and Michael Culp, wanted clearer guidelines on the use of electronic devices and any broadcast tapes, Landau said. They also wanted clarity on the audience members who would be asking the questions.
Because there is not sufficient time to resolve these issues, Landau said, the Democrats withdrew.
"The bottom line is when you start in October to plan a debate in October, you're going to have situations that come up like this," Landau said. "The fact is they got a very late start. ... These things need to be started in the summer."
Marita Green, election Services Chair of the League of Women Voters, said a month was plenty of time to prepare a debate.
"It's a shame," Green said. "The people don't have much chance to see or hear these candidates."
Green said all questions would have been screened by the League to ensure fairness. The League also asks audience members not to record the debate or take photos, an attempt to prevent comments from being taken out of context for political purposes.
League President Olivia Thorne also released a statement expressing her disappointment that the League had to cancel the debate.
"The League worked hard to negotiate a debate format that would suit both (party's) candidates," Thorne said. "The format was agreed to last Thursday and then suddenly the Democratic Party withdrew its agreement today. Their argument that the League could not be trusted to prevent the audience from taking pictures or recording the debate (was) never mentioned during the negotiation.
"The League has a long-standing policy to not allow picture taking or recording of debates by the public. Any recordings by the press must be broadcast in their entirety."
The Delaware County Republicans questioned the late withdraw, saying the Democrats had not raised these concerns during the monthlong planning process.
The final planning meeting for the debate occurred last week. About 150 voters and students were expected to attend.
"I can only believe that the Democrat candidates are afraid to defend their records publicly," Chairman Andy Reilly said in a statement. "Our good-government Republican slate was looking forward to a meaningful, substantive debate on issues important to Delaware County families. But to the Democratic candidates, the prospect of defending a long record of tax hikes to the public seems just too daunting."
The Delco Democrats also pulled out of a similar debate two years ago because the forum did not include candidates running for county controller, sheriff and register of wills.
