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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMMarch 26, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
PHILADELPHIA: Today, Matt McClure, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 4th Councilmanic District, called on his primary opponents to participate in a series of open debates throughout the district. McClure believes that voters deserve to hear directly from the candidates about their qualifications and their vision for the office and to be able to ask questions of them prior to the primary.
“As small ‘d’ democrats and capital ‘D’ Democrats, we should all be focused on trying to inform the electorate and helping them make informed choices about whom to support in the primary, as opposed to making decisions based on advertisements and pieces of mail,” said McClure. “The single best way to do that is to have multiple open forums and debates where voters can directly ask us questions.”
McClure is publicly calling for debates at a time it is becoming increasingly clear that the incumbent Councilwoman, Carol Campbell, has been avoiding community held candidate forums and requests from other interest groups to appear at their candidate’s nights. In fact one community organizer reportedly was asked by Campbell’s staff to, “stop calling, we will contact you if we want to talk.” Campbell has attended no community forms to date, canceling appearances several times.
McClure remarked, “If Ms. Campbell continues to refuse to meet with voters, it is reasonable to wonder why she is hiding? I think it is paramount that the voters get a real chance to listen to the candidates side by side and make up their minds about who has the best ideas for our families and our community.”
McClure has been talking with several community leaders and groups about hosting debates. NAACP President and talk show host, Jerry Mondesire, has already pledged to help host a debate and to broadcast the debate on his weekly radio show.
“I am ready, willing and even eager to discuss why I believe I should be the next Council person from the 4th District,” closed McClure. “If others aren’t equally willing, they should not be running for office.”
McClure, a 4th generation Philadelphian, began his professional career working for the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC before returning to Philadelphia to work for then-Mayor Ed Rendell. He is currently an attorney at Ballard Spahr. He and his wife Kelly and their two children live in East Falls.
For more information, visit: www.mcclureforcouncil.com, call the campaign headquarters at 215-843-0917, email us at info@McClureforCouncil.com, or stop by the campaign headquarters at 4163 Ridge Avenue in East Falls.
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