On Thursday it was announced that the two major candidates for attorney general will be going head-to-head in a Sunday, Oct. 16 debate. Until then, they debate over the debates, with the Republican candidate insisting on two debates and the Democrat wanting seven.
The debate between Republican candidate and former Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi and Democratic nominee Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach will be on Bay News 9 and on News 13 in Orlando on Oct. 18. While the debate was agreed to last week, the Bondi campaign announced it Thursday.
I believe that the office of the attorney general is one of the most important races in our state right now, in large part because the protection of the freedoms, rights, safety and jobs of Floridas citizens is at stake, said Bondi, who defeated Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson for the GOP nod. My Democratic opponent and I offer very clear choices for the voters on key issues facing Floridians every day in their lives.
It is imperative that the people of our state have the opportunity to hear directly from my opponent and me on these important issues and be aware of the very different choices in leadership we will offer, added Bondi. I look forward to debating my opponent and I extend my thank-you to our hosts Bay News 9 and Central Florida News 13 for agreeing to sponsor this important discussion.
Gelber, who defeated Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres for the Democratic nomination, indicated a willingness to debate.
I share your opinion that the citizens of Florida should be given the opportunity to hear directly from each of us on the important issues concerning our great state and the office of the attorney general, wrote Gelber in a letter to Bondi on Thursday.
Like you, I believe that the office of attorney general is one of the most important in our state, he continued. The people of Florida rely upon the attorney general to protect their rights, ensure their safety and security, and stand up to the powerful foes that intend them harm. That is why I believe it is imperative that we give the voters ample opportunity to learn where each of us stands on the many important issues that fall under the purview of the attorney general.
But Gelber insisted in the letter to Bondi that there should be more debates than just the two the Republican proposed.
I strongly believe the voters should be given more than the two opportunities for a public debate that you have proposed, wrote Gelber. While I appreciate your public challenge to debate on two occasions, I have already accepted invitations to debate you in the following seven debates; I sincerely hope that you will reconsider your position and agree to appear in all venues.
Gelber added that he agreed to also take part in debates held by Leadership Florida on Oct. 5 which will be taped and broadcast across the state; one sponsored by the Cuban American Bar Association, the Dade Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Association of Women Lawyers on Oct. 8; the League of Women Voters in Vero Beach on Oct. 14. Gelber added that he also agreed to take part in debates sponsored by the Daily Business Review, Citizens for a Better Fort Myers and the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and Collier Bar Association, though no dates have been finalized for those events.
I am confident that we can set a schedule that works for each of our campaigns and meets the expectations of Florida voters, concluded Gelber. I look forward to a spirited discussion of the issues.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
