MONROE - Candidates for the 51st Assembly District are debating over debates.
Republican challenger Nathan Russell, in a news release issued Monday, said he asked Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, to participate in a series of forums or debates in five communities in the district.
According to Russell, "Hilgenberg has remained silent on the opportunity to share his views with the citizens of the 51st Assembly district."
Russell said he doesn't know why Hilgenberg has not answered the challenge he made Aug. 26.
Hilgenberg, however, said he responded to Russell's proposal Monday and explained why he doesn't want the five forum debates proposed by Russell.
"They (the forums) should be proposed by organizations rather than the candidates themselves," Hilgenberg said. "I'm more inclined to let organizations organize them."
Neither candidate had a challenger in Tuesday's primary. The general election is Nov. 4.
Russell said he challenged Hilgenberg to meet with him in communities that Hilgenberg won, as well as those he lost two years ago when he defeated incumbent Steve Freese. Russell said he's willing to debate anywhere. He listed five communities, Buena Vista township, Darlington, Sauk Prairie, Plain and Dodgeville as suggestions.
"Format, time, location and moderators are all open to agreement," he told Hilgenberg in the Aug. 26 letter.
Russell requested either Hilgenberg or someone from his office contact him by Sept. 2.
Hilgenberg said he and Russell will attend a forum at Pecatonica High School Oct. 15 that will include education issues. He plans to attend a forum in Richland Center Oct. 6 to discuss issues related to the elderly and people with disabilities.
The forums are similar to what was done in the 2006 campaign, Hilgenberg said. In the 2006 campaign, he and Freese attended forums organized by various groups but didn't engage in debates organized by candidates.
"I think it's his strategy to come up with these," Hilgenberg said of the Russell's plan for debates.
Hilgenberg said he would be receptive to a debate organized by the candidates closer to the election if no other forums were organized. However, he hopes groups will come forward to host more forums before the Nov. 4 election.
On Monday, Russell sent out his news release, which accused Hilgenberg of being "apathetic with no response," to the letter Russell sent last month.
Hilgenberg disputes Russell's charge that he's not interested to meet and listen to voters.
"I'm going to campaign as I have. I'm going to go door-to-door and talk to people," he said.
Republican challenger Nathan Russell, in a news release issued Monday, said he asked Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, to participate in a series of forums or debates in five communities in the district.
According to Russell, "Hilgenberg has remained silent on the opportunity to share his views with the citizens of the 51st Assembly district."
Russell said he doesn't know why Hilgenberg has not answered the challenge he made Aug. 26.
Hilgenberg, however, said he responded to Russell's proposal Monday and explained why he doesn't want the five forum debates proposed by Russell.
"They (the forums) should be proposed by organizations rather than the candidates themselves," Hilgenberg said. "I'm more inclined to let organizations organize them."
Neither candidate had a challenger in Tuesday's primary. The general election is Nov. 4.
Russell said he challenged Hilgenberg to meet with him in communities that Hilgenberg won, as well as those he lost two years ago when he defeated incumbent Steve Freese. Russell said he's willing to debate anywhere. He listed five communities, Buena Vista township, Darlington, Sauk Prairie, Plain and Dodgeville as suggestions.
"Format, time, location and moderators are all open to agreement," he told Hilgenberg in the Aug. 26 letter.
Russell requested either Hilgenberg or someone from his office contact him by Sept. 2.
Hilgenberg said he and Russell will attend a forum at Pecatonica High School Oct. 15 that will include education issues. He plans to attend a forum in Richland Center Oct. 6 to discuss issues related to the elderly and people with disabilities.
The forums are similar to what was done in the 2006 campaign, Hilgenberg said. In the 2006 campaign, he and Freese attended forums organized by various groups but didn't engage in debates organized by candidates.
"I think it's his strategy to come up with these," Hilgenberg said of the Russell's plan for debates.
Hilgenberg said he would be receptive to a debate organized by the candidates closer to the election if no other forums were organized. However, he hopes groups will come forward to host more forums before the Nov. 4 election.
On Monday, Russell sent out his news release, which accused Hilgenberg of being "apathetic with no response," to the letter Russell sent last month.
Hilgenberg disputes Russell's charge that he's not interested to meet and listen to voters.
"I'm going to campaign as I have. I'm going to go door-to-door and talk to people," he said.