Dr. Matt Longjohn, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the sixth district, has proposed that he and Fred Upton schedule six in-person public debates prior to the November election, one in each county in the district. Upton has refused to participate in any in-person public debates.

Upton did agree to two broadcast debates, but these will not include voter attendance or the opportunity to question the candidates.

Marilyn Klawiter, the current President of the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties, has stated, “Voting is both a privilege and a duty. To do it well, we need good tools. The most important tool is information. We can make good decisions about who to vote for only if we find out what a candidate stands for. And we learn what a candidate stands for when the candidate tells us what he or she thinks about important issues.”

Apparently, Mr. Upton does not agree with this position. He has stopped having in-person town hall meetings and prefers to hunker down amongst his Republican buddies in Washington and avoid any direct contact with the voters of his district.

It is time to take a stand. If Upton cannot define his priorities and defend them in a public in-person debate, then he is not qualified for the office. He is a “representative of the people,” and if he refuses to listen to his constituents, then it is time for him to go.

Please join me in voting for Dr. Matt Longjohn on Nov. 6.

Sharon Downing

St. Joseph