Letters to the Editor

Two U.S. Senate candidates want more statewide debates

The special election December 8th primary to replace Edward M. Kennedy in the United States Senate is now less than one month away.  As candidates for that office, we have been campaigning across Massachusetts communicating our vision for the future to the voters.

At the same time, we have been patiently waiting and hoping that the spirit of common civic interest that has produced televised statewide candidate debates in previously high-profile elections would materialize.  For reasons that aren’t clear to us, such an effort has yet to gain momentum and unless something changes very quickly, the voters of Massachusetts will be robbed of the critical opportunity to see the candidates in this election debate.

We believe the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deserve a minimum of two statewide televised debates.  Thus far there have been none.  We respectfully propose a debate be held in Western Massachusetts on November 20th, and a final debate be held at Faneuil Hall in Boston, on December 3rd or 4th.  We believe both these debates should be shown to voters on a statewide basis.

To date there has been just one prime time television debate.  Unfortunately for the voters, it wasn’t shown outside of the Boston media market and didn’t include questions from the media.  In tribute to the Senate seat once held by John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, John and Edward Kennedy, we believe the people of Massachusetts deserve a more thorough understanding of the candidates’ views on the great many issues that face our nation.

As a sign of our commitment to make these debates a reality, our campaigns are willing to help pay for any reasonable production costs associated with holding the debates and putting them on television.

We hope you will join with us to provide Massachusetts’ voters the opportunity to take a good look at the Democratic primary candidates seeking to represent us in the United States Senate.

This is an historic election — an election to choose the successor to one of the greatest Senators in our country’s history.  Edward M. Kennedy was the people’s Senator, and we believe the people of Massachusetts deserve the chance to see and hear exactly how the candidates for his seat will fulfill his legacy and lead Massachusetts forward.

Alan Khazei
Steve Pagliuca