First District Democratic Candidate Dr. John LaFerla says he’s ready to debate Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD1), but Harris has cancelled his appearance at League of Women Voters Forum on Oct. 21
Eastern Shore residents, and perhaps the rest of the nation, will miss the opportunity to hear two physicians slug it out for Maryland’s 1st District seat in Congress on the issue of national health care–because Harris has cancelled his appearance at an upcoming debate.
“The Harris campaign called us last week and said they would not be participating in any of the forums,” said Janice Bain-Kerr, president of the Mid-Shore League of Women Voters. “We are very disappointed for the voters who won’t get to hear and compare all the views of all the candidates.”
The debate scheduled for Oct. 21 at Chesapeake College will be missing Congressman Dr. Andy Harris (R-MD1), who was to square off with Democratic challenger Wendy Rosen before she bowed out of the race amid allegations of voter fraud.
But Chestertown’s Dr. John LaFerla, who narrowly lost to Rosen by 58 votes in the April primary, was appointed by state Democrats late last week to fill Rosen’s slot as a write-in candidate—and he is ready to challenge Harris on a range of issues in the public forum, said LaFerla’s campaign manager, Erik Gulbrandsen on Monday.
But the Harris campaign and other Republican insiders say there is “no longer a Democratic candidate to debate.” They see less legitimacy in LaFerla as the Democratic challenger because he is a “write-in” candidate.
“Anyone can be write-in candidate if you’re over 25 and have residency in Maryland,” said Harris’s campaign manager, Kathy Szeliga.
She said Harris’s decision to skip the forum was not meant to disrespect any write-in candidate.
“But the Democrat candidate on the November ballot is no longer in the race, and we feel we can reach voters more effectively through town hall meetings,” Szeliga said. Other sources in the Maryland Republican Party told the Spy that Harris’s overwhelming lead in the state’s last GOP stronghold “gave little incentive for Harris to endure a debate.”
It was too late to put LaFerla’s name on the ballot because of Rosen’s late departure, but LaFerla’s name will be visible at polling stations and on the walls of the voting booth, Gulbrandsen said. He said volunteers will be on hand at 200 polling places on Nov. 6 to explain the write-in process to voters, and the Maryland Democratic Party will be active in getting out the vote for LaFerla.
“The Maryland Coordinated Campaign is running a large grassroots operation to support President Obama, Senator Cardin and John LaFerla,” said Maryland Democratic Spokesman Matt Verghese. “We have more offices and more volunteers in the First District than in 2008, and have already contacted thousands of voters. There’s incredible enthusiasm on the ground and we’re going to do a big push for early voting and GOTV.”
Gulbrandsen said Dr. Harris is using the write-in status of LaFerla as a “convenient technicality” to hide from a formidable opponent on the issue national health care, which Gulbrandsen says will greatly impact the
Congressman Dr. Andy Harris (R-MD1)
Eastern Shore’s growing elderly population.
“Funny that Harris would pull out of the debate when going against a fellow doctor with opposing views,” Gulbrandsen said. “But Dr. LaFerla will be at the [League of Women Voters] forum to present his views and make his case for health care and a range of other critical issues.”
The Maryland Democratic Party also believes Harris is dodging LaFerla and reaffirmed the legitimacy of the new Democratic challenger.
“Dr. LaFerla is the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate in the 1st District,” Verghese said. “And he will wage an aggressive campaign to show voters the choice they face in November.”
“We’re not surprised that Andy Harris wants to run far away from his far right record in Congress,” Verghese said. “He doesn’t want to explain to Maryland families why he voted to end Medicare as we know it, cut Pell Grants for students, harm the Chesapeake Bay or undermine our economic recovery. Andy Harris can cater to special interests, but he doesn’t want an open and honest debate on the issues.”
The LaFerla campaign intends to appear at some of Harris’ town hall meetings to give voters a clear contrast between the two campaigns.
Dr. LaFerla has embraced President Obama’s health care plan, but Dr. Harris favors a plan offered by Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan, which provides a $6,000 annual voucher to seniors to replace the Medicare system. Seniors would be responsible for any health care costs after the vouchers were spent.
The average cost of a heart bypass operation in 1988 was $30,000.
Harris did not respond to several calls by the time this story ran.
mary wood says
Harris obviously has no interest in representing the voters in the 1st election district by refusing to let them hear what both he and LaFerla have to say on important issues. Refusing a debate is not an example of leadership.
Jack Offett says
Andy Harris would be nuts to enter into any public discussion on any issues that would attract public scrutiny about his views.
Consider the latest, greatest crisis facing the First District: sedimentation and pollution for nearly 100 years of build up at the Conowingo Dam is about the rain down upon the Chesapeake Bay undoing water improvement efforts Maryland has attempted to date. What is Andy’s response? Hell no to support for Bay Clean Up. Hell no for holding PA and NY accountable. He likes to talk about re-building Maryland’s fisheries as he does nothing about the imminent disaster facing the Chesapeake Bay and the Maryland Eastern Shore.
Keith Thompson says
There’s a complication here that this story overlooks and that is, not counting Wendy Rosen who’s now out of the race, there are TWO candidates on the ballot. Because he’s on the ballot, Libertarian Party candidate Muir Boda actually has more standing to be in the debate than any of the write-in candidates including Dr. LaFerla, but the two-party system certainly can’t possibly allow the Libertarian candidate to participate in a debate can they? If the Democratic Party wants to promote fairness here, they should be demanding that Mr. Boda be allowed to debate Dr. LaFerla as well as the other write-in candidates Mike Calpino and Doug Rae.
Erik Gulbrandsen says
Dr. LaFerla believes that civilized debate between candidates is fundamental to the democratic process, and welcomes the opportunity to discuss his positions with any and all candidates in public fora. Voters deserve the opportunity to make an informed decision based on the contrasting views presented by the candidates, and we are grateful for the service provided by forum organizers. It is also our sincere hope that Congressman Harris will advertise his “town hall meetings” well in advance of their occurrence in order to provide his constituents ample opportunity to participate.
Jack Offett says
Thank you Mr. Gulbrandsen: the plural of “forum” is indeed “fora” –note to the LWV and this paper’s editors. In my view, you’re right: Congressman Harris should accept previously scheduled debates and with all party nominees.
Keith Thompson says
I agree that it looks bad that Dr. Harris is backing out of the debate; but given the traditional short shrift that is given to third party, independent or write-in candidates in any sort of debate scenario, his reasoning is understandable. I guarantee you that the mainstream media perception of this race outside of the Greater Chestertown area is that Andy Harris is running unopposed after Rosen’s resignation. As someone who has been registered third party for a couple of decades and have been involved in the ballot access process, it is amusing to me to see one of the major parties having to deal with this. It’s nice to see the shoe on the other foot for a change.
Lainey Harrison says
I cant believe you just said Andy Harris’ reasoning was understandable! His reasoning is anything but understandable. All the candidates should be involved in the debate, it should not matter if they are on the ballot, in a party, or simply a write in candidate. This is just another typical response from Andy and his overwhelming arrogance.
Keith Thompson says
Lainey, I said it was understandable from his point of view…I didn’t say that I agree with it. I agree with you 100% that all candidates should be involved in political debate regardless of party affiliation or ballot status. However to say that Andy Harris’s response is typical of Andy Harris is much too shallow a response as that response is typical of the vast majority of Republicans and Democrats because both political parties have set up ballot access laws to exclude other challengers. If Republicans and Democrats were interested in giving everyone a seat at the political debate table, they would be fighting to ease ballot access for independent or third party candidates rather than erecting roadblocks to it.
Josh Miller says
Oh Kieth?
I think the point here is that two medical professionals would be the best two candidates to spar over health care, which is a much needed public discussion. And if you look at the LOWV, you will see that Boda and the other candidates already ARE invited to the debate. Hello?
Keith Thompson says
Josh, certainly having two doctors debating health care is a worthwhile and an interesting debate but you miss my point…the media as well as the major parties conveniently ignore the fact that there are more than two candidates on the ballot in (I believe) every US House race in Maryland. It just so happens that in the First that the official Democratic Party candidate is a write-in and I find it somewhat ironic that the party is lamenting getting ducked in a debate when traditionally third party candidates ON THE BALLOT routinely get ducked in debates.
Besides, given the GOP shenanigans in states such as Pennsylvania and Virginia in attempts to keep presidential candidates Gary Johnson and Virgil Goode off the ballot…I’m far more upset at Republicans than Democrats right now.
Michael V Johnson says
I would say all the bizarre chapters of this campaign are indicative of Harris wanting to avoid a debate with John. If there is no way to put John on the ballot I think we should at least have a Huey Long on there. Just saying.