I had hoped to have a public debate with my opponent, George Temple, at the Oxford Grange.
The Grange had generously offered to host the event and provide an impartial moderator. All we needed was George Temple. But he said no. Then his campaign manager said yes. But then George Temple said no again.
Temple will only debate me at Oxford Greens, an over-55 community here.
We have agreed, and that debate is scheduled for October 30.
Unfortunately, it will only be for Oxford Greens residents — and it will be closed to the press.
In other words, Temple has decided that nearly all of Oxford’s twelve thousand residents have no right to hear him discuss issues in this campaign or his record as First Selectman. Yet he has the nerve to campaign on the slogan of “Oxford Together.”
This is nothing new. George Temple pulled the same shenanigans when he ran in 2011. What is he afraid of? Why won’t he face the voters? Temple’s refusal to debate openly is an insult to everyone who lives in Oxford and cares about the future of our town.
Temple included his home telephone number in one of his campaign letters. Here it is again: 203 – 888-4337.
I urge all Oxford residents who would like to see him debate me in public to give him a call. Tell him to allow everyone in town to hear his vision — and mine — for Oxford’s future.
The author is a Democrat running for First Selectman in Oxford.
