Letter: Why won’t Senator Messmer debate his opponents?

To take a break from examining the continuing over-taxation of Dubois County city/town residents through Tax Increment Financing, rising property taxes and new taxation, I want to talk about debates and how many Republicans are refusing to debate.

To start off, a tip of the cap to Senator Braun’s willingness to debate for governor. He didn’t take the coward’s way out, but with strong opposition from Donald Rainwater and, to a lesser extent, former education secretary of Indiana Jennifer McCormick, he will push his idea to Hoosiers in debates.

Sadly, I have to point out that our own State Senator Mark Messmer is refusing to debate for the 8th Congressional District with Libertarian Richard Fitzlaff and Democrat Erik Hurt. Yes, it is true. His campaign and Mark himself are refusing to respond to multiple calls from debate organizers WEHT TV, the Courier Press and the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana. How did a guy who went door to door to earn votes become the guy who hides in shadows, hoping he won’t get asked questions?

This is not just State Sen Messmer; Congressman Jim Banks is also refusing to debate the other Senate candidates for the Indiana Senate position. The Senate debate, the last I heard, they will hold it for Libertarian Andrew Horning and the Democrat candidate to debate and if Banks wants to show up, he can.

The Republican party is broken. If this is how their candidates act, what will they do when the going gets tough? I am disappointed in both of them. Shame on them. The people of Indiana deserve better. I call on Mark to debate. It is something a Christian, a Scout, and a good person who wants to serve in an elected position should want to do.

Adrian Engelberth
Jasper