|
|
 |
> Press > KOGUT SAYS LETS DEBATE
KOGUT SAYS LETS DEBATE
KOGUT SUPPORTS CALL FOR DEBATES, BUT WARNS:
OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES MAY NOT
Within minutes of hearing the suggestion, Democratic candidate for District Attorney Michael T. Kogut agreed to support unenrolled candidate Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni's call for debates and forums sponsored by local colleges and the media. I fully agree with Attorney Mastroianni. I am, likewise, committed to an open and public debate among all the candidates for this important office. I believe that the residents and voters of Hampden County deserve as many opportunities as possible to scrutinize the candidates, and to compare and contrast their records, experience and vision for the office.
Kogut, while fully supporting Mastroianni's call for debates, also warned that other candidates in the democratic primary may be reluctant to include Mastroianni until after the democratic primary selects a nominee. Kogut stated, "While I believe this is one of those times partisan politics needs to be put aside for the betterment of the election, I am concerned that one or more of the other democratic opponents may balk at including an unenrolled candidate in debates and forums, particularly those sponsored by democratic organizations until after the primary. One or more of them may view exclusion as politically wise to limit the unenrolled candidate's exposure to voters. My comments are based on the fact that none of the others, for what I can only assume are political reasons, responded to, or joined us, in our non-partisan letter to the legislature advocating for enhanced victim protections and rights in April.
Kogut has also announced a number of measures his committee with undertake to provide openness, transparency and to avoid the appearance of conflicts in campaign fund-raising. Those initiatives may be viewed in detail at www.votemikekogut.com.
Attorney Kogut is a former Assistant District Attorney and a former Assistant Attorney General. He currently practices law in Springfield where he resides with his family.
SEE SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN EDITORIAL
|
| |
|
|
