FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2012
Contact: Katie Carlson
812-340-2717
Email: [email protected]
Shelli Yoder, 9th District congressional candidate, today challenged her opponent Rep. Todd Young to a series of 13 town hall style debates to take place in each of the 13 counties in the district. Young, a 1st-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, had pushed hard for multiple debates in 2010 when he challenged incumbent Baron Hill, saying it was important to have “a respectful conversation about the issues in front of voters.”
“Our form of representative democracy relies upon a well-informed public to make rational choices about its future at election time,” Yoder said in a letter delivered to Young’s Bloomington office today. “That’s why candidate debates are so important. The people deserve them.”
Yoder wrote, “Congressional campaigns offer the best opportunity for average citizens to have some direct contact with their federal government.” Noting that at a time when “many voters are estranged from government,” Yoder said, “holding a town hall meeting in each of the 13 counties in our district is one of the best ways to reinvigorate our democracy and have direct contact with voters.”
Yoder noted that her request for town hall style debates mirrors Young’s stated debate preferences when he challenged Hill. “Since Mr. Young is already on record as saying the public deserves as many debates as possible and that they should be held in a town hall type format, there is no reason for him to reject my challenge.”
“I hope that you will demonstrate your belief and trust in our democracy and the right of the people to be informed about their election choices by accepting my 13 county town hall debate challenge,” Yoder wrote in her letter to Young. She noted that if the debates began in August there would be time to complete debates in all 13 counties before the November election.
Yoder’s key issues in her campaign from Congress are creating jobs and expanding opportunities for all Hoosier families. Her 10-point jobs plan includes increasing opportunities for worker training, funding her health research initiatives, and investing in green technologies. Yoder is running to unseat Todd Young in the general election on November 6, 2012. For more information on Yoder’s candidacy, please go to www.shelliyoderforcongress.com.
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