Aside from the Clean Elections debate next month, Democrat Governor Napolitano and Republican challenger Len Munsil must attend as publicly financed candidates, the two candidates have not come to an agreement on other debates.
Libertarian Barry Hess, who is privately funded and making his second run for governor, has agreed to take part in the Clean Elections debate, as well as two others the governor has proposed for Tucson and northern Arizona. Prior to Sept. 21, Mr. Hess had become a wildcard in the debate about debates.
Ms. Napolitano says Mr. Hess should be included in any debates between her and Mr. Munsil. A Munsil handler, however, said on Sept. 19 the Libertarian shouldn’t be included in the debates.
That changed two days later when Mr. Munsil said Mr. Hess should be in the debates because “He’s a qualified candidate.”
Ms. Napolitano echoed, “Barry Hess is a member of a party that’s on the ballot “He’s qualified for the ballot. He needs to be in the debate.”
Nathan Sproul, Mr. Munsil’s campaign manager, said earlier the governor was ducking debates with Mr. Munsil by insisting Mr. Hess be included.
“We challenging her to 10 debates all around the state because we believe the entire state is important,” he said “It’s hard to justify having someone in the debate who last election got 1.7 percent of the vote. The voters of Arizona should have an opportunity to hear from the two candidates who are viable candidates, who can both win the election.
“It’s relatively evident that Ms. Napolitano is doing everything she can not to have a vigorous debate with Len Munsil,” Mr. Sproul said.
Ms. Napolitano said she wants to get southern and northern Arizona debates scheduled before responding to Mr. Munsil’s request for 10 debates.
Mr. Hess said he appreciates Ms. Napolitano’s support for his inclusion in debates, adding, however, he feels like “the Rosa Parks” of the gubernatorial race because the state’s largest newspaper slights his candidacy.
He has complained to The Arizona Republic, calling it the fourth contender in the race.
Mr. Hess, who abhors Clean Elections, said, “ …[I]t appears that The Arizona Republic may be in violation of campaign finance laws and attempting to influence a public election should such ‘coverage’ be deemed advertising for the two public tax dollar financed campaigns it covers,”
He adds later he is going to put up a “media bias” page on his Web site, where he will juxtapose news articles with transcripts and videos of forums and debates.
“Did your reporter consider that Len or Janet might be ‘my spoiler’” he wrote in an e-mail to a member of the newspaper’s editorial board.
Mr. Hess told Arizona Capitol Times he thinks he can beat “the Republican candidate.
Clean Elections debate is Oct. 5
The Clean Elections governor debate is Oct. 5 at ASU and will be televised by KAET Channel 8.