{news} Norwich Bulletin: Allow all candidates to speak at debates

[David Bedell]

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/x810461435/Our-view-Allow-all-candidates-to-speak-at-debates

Our view: Allow all candidates to speak at debates

By
Norwich Bulletin
Posted Sep 24, 2008 @ 11:15 PM

Minor party candidates in this year's election are once again being treated
unfairly. The League of Women Voters of Connecticut has decided not to
invite Green Party candidates to participate in any debate the league is
sponsoring.

That means Green Party 2nd Congressional District candidate Scott Deshefy of
Lebanon will not be allowed to participate Oct. 7 in the Garde Arts Center
debate along with Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and his
Republican challenger Sean Sullivan.

That is unfortunate besides being unfair.

Deshefy qualified to be on the ballot by obtaining the necessary signatures
to meet state election law requirements. He should be given the opportunity
to present his case to the people of the 2nd District, just as Courtney and
Sullivan are being afforded that same opportunity.

While it is likely Deshefy's candidacy will have little impact on the
outcome of the race - he lacks the financial support and name recognition to
be a factor - that should not disqualify him from presenting his views on
the issues with his major party opponents.

Fortunately, not all debate sponsors feel the same as the league. Deshefy
has been invited to participate in the debate hosted by the Lebanon Business
Association (Oct. 14) and the Plainfield debate (Oct. 15) hosted by this
newspaper and the Chambers of Commerce of Northeastern Connecticut and the
Greater Norwich Area.

Should be enough

It is not an easy task to obtain ballot status as a minor party candidate.
Candidates must obtain the signatures of registered voters equal to 1
percent of the total vote from the district cast in the last election.
Deshefy needed a little less than 4,000 signatures to qualify, and turned in
more than 5,000 signatures to assure himself a spot on the ballot. The
Republican and Democratic candidates needed only the support of delegates at
their respective conventions - which they easily received.

Shouldn't qualifying for a ballot spot through a petitioning effort be
sufficient to demonstrate a level of support that would warrant any
candidate to be treated equally with those who are not required to do the
same? Shouldn't a qualified candidate be at least afforded the opportunity
to make their case to voters at public forums so that citizens can decide on
Election Day who best represents their views?