HUNGER STRIKE DEBATE SET FOR OCTOBER 15

HUNGER STRIKE DEBATE SET FOR OCTOBER 15

Where: Cuyamaca College Communication Arts Theatre, Room B-117

Rancho San Diego; 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy

When : 7p.m. – 9p.m., Saturday, October 15

Ray Lutz for Congress 2010

www.VoteRayLutz.com

Media Contact: Brennan Purtzer, Media Director

619-447-3246 / [email protected]

OCT 15 CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE FOLLOWS 11-DAY HUNGER STRIKE

San Diego County, Calif. (Oct 2, 2010) –

Congressman Duncan Duane Hunter has said he will finally step up to

debate his eager general election opponents on October 15, at a East

County Chamber of Commerce debate. The congressman refused to debate

his opponents until Democratic Candidate Raymond Lutz and Libertarian

Candidate Michael Benoit staged an 11-day “Hunger Strike for Democracy

back in August.”

On the morning of August 19, just hours after Lutz appeared on CNN to

discuss the hunger strike, a representative from Congressman Hunter’s

campaign hand delivered a debate acceptance notice to the Lutz office.

Though Lutz ended his hunger strike, which garnered him national

attention and a forthcoming article in The Nation magazine, his

“insurgent” campaign tactics have persisted. He has led marches,

protest and demonstrations, and founded a non-partisan national

organization, Debate For Democracy, to advocate for congressional

debates in every district.

And despite the lack of cooperation from the Hunter campaign, Lutz and

Benoit have continued their campaign to reach out to voters across the

expansive 52nd congressional district. They have already held debates

(inviting Congressman Hunter to each of them) in the communities of

Alpine, Ramona and Lakeside/Santee. They have upcoming debates

scheduled for Poway, Clairemont Mesa and Borrego Springs, though the

congressman has not confirmed attendance for any of these events.

“Hunter’s reluctance to debate represents a disturbing trend,” Ray

Lutz said. Earlier this month, Republican Congressman Darrell Issa

(CA-49) backed out of a commitment he made earlier this summer to

debate his Democratic Challenger Howard Katz.

However, not all debate trends are negative. While Hunter has made it

clear that he is not interested in allowing the voters of his district

to pose questions about his record and ideas, Republican

Representative Brian Bilbray (CA-51) has gone out of his way to

request more debates from his counterpart, Democratic Challenger

Francine Busby.

The October 15 debate, which will be moderated by a television anchor

and broadcast locally, is expected to be well attended. Audience

members will be encouraged to ask challenging questions, especially

with recent allegations of immorality in light of the Boehner Sex

scandal and controversial earmark requests.

Where: Cuyamaca College Communication Arts Theatre, Room B-117

Rancho San Diego; 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy

When : 7p.m. – 9p.m., Saturday, October 15

Ref: www.debatefordemocracy.org

For media inquiries, contact Brennan Purtzer, media coordinator, at 619.447.3246