During the 2012 season, Rep. Dan Maffei participated in just two debate.
He’s upping that number this time around.
The Democratic incumbent running for the 24th Congressional District has announced a series of debates and joint appearances with Republican challenger John Katko. Four debates will be televised by local stations, and two will be broadcast on public radio.
The schedule is as follows:
The Campbell Conversations, 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 26, on WRVO public radio.
TWC News debate, time to be announced, Monday, Oct. 27, on Time Warner Cable News Central New York (Channel 10).
CNY Central Debate, time to be announced, Tuesday, Oct. 28, on CNY Central (Channel 3).
WCNY-TV/Syracuse Media Group debate, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, on WCNY-TV (Channel 24).
Thursday Morning Roundtable and Broadcast on WCNY Public Radio. 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Hosted by the University College of Syracuse University. Will be broadcast on WCNY Public Radio at 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
WSYR-TV debate, 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, broadcast on News Channel 9.
Katko said he was pleased to see that Maffei had agreed to debates, but he did have some questions about the decision.
“I have said all along that I would debate my opponent every day of the week and twice on Sunday if he would agree to appear alongside me,” Katko said in a statement. ““I just didn’t expect that Dan Maffei would take me so literally and agree only to debate in the single week leading up to Election Day.It is insulting that the incumbent refuses to present his record directly to voters in side-by-side open debates and candidate forums now, instead insisting on highly scripted exchanges in controlled studio settings far away from the very middle class families he so brazenly claims he is concerned about.”
Stirpe earns AFL-CIO endorsement
The largest labor organization in New York state has endorsed Democrat Al Stirpe in his campaign to keep his seat as the 127th District Assemblyman.
“The AFL-CIO fights for the interests of hardworking families each and every day,” said Stirpe. “I look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen the middle class, protect the rights of working men and women and create good-paying jobs right here in our community.”
According to a release, the organization “endorses candidates, like Stirpe, who are working for ‘the creation of good, long-term jobs and strong investment in the public services all New Yorkers rely on.’”
