|
REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMFebruary 28, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
CONTACT: Solomon Jones or
Rebecca Kirszner (215) 829-1620
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah today sent a letter to all prospective candidates in the Mayoral Primary inviting them to join him at four debates between March 20th and April 30th.
"Debates are an excellent vehicle for comparing and contrasting visions for leadership and opportunity," Fattah said.
The proposition is that two of the four debates focus on specific issues, one on crime and one on opportunity (which would include jobs, education, healthcare and housing) and that the other two debates would be general and open to questions on all topics.
"It is the responsibility of every candidate to respect the citizens of Philadelphia and present them with a campaign filled with good, sound ideas on how to provide real opportunity for all Philadelphians," Fattah said. "I am proposing a full slate of debates, before different panels of questioners and with different structures, so that our citizens will have the important opportunity to consider and compare our ideas."
Fattah asks for representatives from each campaign to be appointed and to discuss details such as question format, time requirements and logistics. Chaka Fattah already asked LaToya Hackney and Mark Aronchick to serve as his campaign representatives.
Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah has already committed to attend two debates, one jointly proposed by CBS3 Eyewitness News, the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia and the Committee of 70, and the KYW Newsradio's Breakfast with the Candidates. He invites the other candidates to do the same. Fattah would like to see one of the other two debates be hosted or co-hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists and occur, if possible, on a major news station. The fourth, according to Fattah, should occur on either a news station or radio station that broadcasts in Spanish.
The letter in its entirety is below:
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Dear Fellow Candidate:
We have the opportunity to provide for our citizens a campaign filled with good, sound ideas on how to provide real opportunities for Philadelphians in the immediate future. We owe it to our citizens to provide the most informed, substantive and detailed dialogue and conversation about how to solve the problems facing us. We must demonstrate, in our words and in our conduct, our leadership qualities so that Philadelphians can choose the best possible person among us for the most important of our locally elected offices, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
I know that each of us will be appearing at many conferences, forums, interviews, and other campaign appearances in the coming months, and each of us will be presenting our specific ideas for consideration, questioning and review.
We have seen, in addition, that debates are an excellent vehicle for comparing and contrasting our visions for leadership and opportunity. In that regard, I am proposing that we all commit, at the earliest possible opportunity, to a full slate of debates, before different panels of questioners and with different structures, so that our citizens will have that important opportunity to consider and compare our ideas.
I am proposing the following;
1. That we commit to four debates between March 20 and April 30, spaced evenly;
2. That two of those debates focus on specific issues, one on crime and one on opportunity, which would include jobs, education, healthcare and housing, and that the two other debates be general and open to questions on all topics;
3. That we commit to the debate being jointly proposed by CBS3 Eyewitness News, the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia, and the Committee of 70; that we commit to KYW Newsradio's Breakfast With The Candidate; that another debate be hosted or co-hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists and occur, if possible, on a major news station; and the fourth occur on either a news station or radio station that broadcasts in Spanish.
4. That representatives of each of our campaigns immediately discuss details such as question format, time requirements and other logistics.
I have asked LaToya Hackney and Mark Aronchick to serve as our campaign's representatives. Please let me know, at your first convenience, if you agree with our proposals and if so, who you designate as your representatives. We should try to arrive at a complete agreement as quickly as possible.
I look forward to this endeavor.
Very truly yours,
Chaka Fattah
###