In "New Era" of Accountability Millard Evades Public Debate

2006-10-06T09:38:19-05:00

As published in The Press Enterprise Thu, Oct 5, 2006
Picture of page 1 Millard decides against debate
Challenger Slavick says reluctance casts doubt on lawmaker's skills

By PETER KENDRON

Press Enterprise Writer

Incumbent State Rep. David Millard says he won't debate Democratic challenger David Slavick this fall, and Slavick is using the opportunity to question how effective Millard can be in the state Capitol.

Millard says he feels his voting record, his door-to-door campaigning and his availability during office hours give voters enough chances to answer questions about his political stances.

But Slavick says debates also show skills a legislator should have.

In the state House, you must speak persuasively at a moment's notice and "have the ability to think on your feet," he said.

"It seems to me that Mr. Millard is not comfortable talking about the issues in a forum he hasn't created himself," Slavick said.

Political analyst G. Terry Madonna said Millard's refusal to debate is not an uncommon choice for a sitting office holder.

"Almost anything that could happen at a debate wouldn't be good for the incumbent," said Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster.

A debate gives a challenger the opportunity to share the stage with the incumbent. If the challenger makes a mistake, it can be passed off as a novice faux pas.

But if the incumbent misspeaks, "the gaffe ... becomes the story," Madonna said.

Millard not scared

Millard, R-Mount Pleasant Township, said he's not scared of a debate. He just doesn't think it's necessary in a state legislative district.

"I'm not running for a statewide office where I can't visit every hamlet or village," he said. Those in a race for governor or U.S. senator may need debates to tell voters where they stand, Millard said.

"But what works for me is being available to my constituents," Millard said. He said he's held legislative breakfasts to "get the pulse of the community" around budget time.

He said he also gets "many, many" calls each day from people who want to know where he stands on an issue. He can answer them one-on-one, which often draws out questions voters may not ask in a public debate.

Plus, debates can become "attacks on the people debating" instead of discussion of the issues, Millard said. And he refuses to do any negative campaigning, he said.

That's why he's turned down offers to participate in debates moderated by Danville's League of Women's Voters and several other organizations, he said.

Plus, Millard said he didn't think it was fair to accept one offer to debate and decline offers from other organizations.

Accountability

Slavick, of Berwick, said that in his door-to-door campaigning, the public has told him they want to see a debate.

Debates give the public a chance to hold an incumbent accountable for the decisions he has made while in office, Slavick said.

"A lack of accountability is what gave us the legislative pay raise," Slavick said.

This year, especially, Slavick said, people want to make "informed decisions."

He pointed out that other incumbents in the area, including Democrats John T. Yudichak of the Nanticoke area and Phyllis Mundy of Kingston, had agreed to debates this year.

"The traditional wisdom that incumbents don't have to debate is gone. This is a new era," Slavick said.

No harm in declining

Pundit Madonna said that the public routinely says in polls that they expect politicians to debate.

But if an incumbent avoids debating, voters "rarely take it out on them," Madonna said.

In his role as a professor of public affairs, Madonna said he believes debates are a good thing.

"The more we talk about the issues facing us, the better," he said.

But from a political standpoint, the reasons why incumbents avoid debates and challengers court them are clear, he said.

The challenger needs debates to get their opinions heard, he said.

A debate gives them the chance to show they are their opponent's equal, and that they also have "gravitas," Madonna said.

And incumbents, who are usually the front-runners, don't want to give their opponents that chance. "They don't want to give them any openings or any name recognition," Madonna said.

In the end, debates rarely change the dynamics of a race, he said. But they have the potential to, he added.

Millard and Slavick are vying for the state House seat for the 109th District, which represents all of Columbia County except the boroughs of Benton and Centralia and the townships of Benton, Cleveland, Conyngham and Franklin.

Public Service Announcement: PA Voters can begin registration with cell phones

2006-10-01T13:54:01-05:00

Would-be voters with cell phones can now start the process of registering by sending a simple text message, thanks to a program the Pennsylvania League of Young Voters Education Fund unveiled this morning.

Cell phone users need only send the message "Pgh" or "Pa" to the number 75444. They will get a message asking for their name and address, and if they supply it, an already completed voter registration form will be sent to their home.

The would-be voter needs only to sign it and send it in by the Oct. 10 registration deadline to vote in the Nov. 7 election. On Election Day, the person will get a text message reminding him to vote and telling him where his polling place is.

Khari Mosley, regional director of the fund, said he was "very excited about this. . . . Our group is always striving to think of new ways to encourage voter registration, especially among the younger population."

The messages are sent via a secure channel and the information provided by registrants will be kept private, the fund said.

Recent Interview Featured on "Breaking Blue"

2006-09-01T14:15:09-05:00

Breaking Blue is a place for breaking news and polls, as well as rumors, chitchat, and general dishing on Democratic politics and DC. David's recent interview was recently featured as "news to know." Read it here.

Website "Future Majority" Features the Campaign in Article Highlighting the Accomplishments of the New Generation of Politicians

2006-09-01T14:09:51-05:00

An article entitled "Millenials Taking Politics Into Their Own Hands - Stories from the Front Lines" highlights the role that forward thinking Democratic candidates like David Slavick are taking in reinvigorating the Democratic Party.

Action 76: Tell Your Story

2006-08-24T12:06:56-05:00

100Actions.com is helping inform voters how to take the actions that are needed to help insure Democratic victory in November's elections. Click on this link to learn how to "Tell Your Story" to local papers to illustrate how Republican policies have hurt you personally.

David Slavick Campaign Blog

In "New Era" of Accountability Millard Evades Public Debate

Public Service Announcement: PA Voters can begin registration with cell phones

Recent Interview Featured on "Breaking Blue"

Website "Future Majority" Features the Campaign in Article Highlighting the Accomplishments of the New Generation of Politicians

Action 76: Tell Your Story