BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls said Monday she will debate Republican incumbent Steve Chabot in the 1st Congressional District campaign this fall -- but she wants to pick the topics.
Chabot campaign officials said that while they are glad the Democratic candidate has accepted their long-standing debate offer, there should be no limit on what will be discussed.
Qualls campaign manager Susan Thomas sent Chabot campaign manager Shannon Walker Jones a letter Monday proposing four debates in October on four topics: education and children; economic development, infrastructure and environment; wages and income; and health care and retirement security.
"We look forward to your acceptance of this proposal," Ms. Thomas wrote.
But Ms. Jones said the Chabot campaign has received "at least 10" invitations from civic and neighborhood groups to host debates and would not agree to limiting subject matter.
"A debate's a debate, and that covers a wide range of issues, including taxes," Ms. Jones said. "We're not going to agree to just talk about what she wants to talk about."
Qualls campaign spokeswoman Beth Davidson said the Qualls campaign considers the letter to be a "starting point" for negotiations over fall debates.
"I assume the topics to be discussed will be part of the negotiations," Ms. Davidson said. "We're willing to talk."
Ms. Qualls, a three-term mayor of Cincinnati, is challenging Mr. Chabot for the 1st District House seat he has held since 1994. Immediately after Ms. Qualls announced her candidacy in February, Mr. Chabot issued a challenge for debates early in the campaign. Ms. Qualls declined, saying she would be willing to debate Mr. Chabot on the issues in the fall.
Ms. Thomas' letter to the Chabot campaign did not specify times, dates or locations for the four debates.
It did propose ground rules, including:
"Significant time for opening and closing statement as well as sufficient time for answers to questions."
Mutually agreed-on moderator.
Mix of formal debates and more "relaxed settings."
