WESTPORT–The now-cancelled debate for Connecticut’s 26th State Senate District candidates in Westport is the latest in a string of League of Women Voters forums nixed reportedly because Republican hopeful Alma Sarelli failed to respond to invitations or told organizers she would not participate.
The League of Women Voters of Westport (LWV) announced today that the face-off planned for next Tuesday would not go forward because the Republican candidate had said she would not participate.
The Wilton LWV’s attempt to organize a September debate with the same candidates was cancelled when Sarelli failed to respond to repeated invitations, according to a report in Good Morning Wilton, and Sam Nestor, the Democratic candidate.
Nestor said Ridgefield and Redding LWV chapters also cancelled debate plans because they had not heard from Sarelli. She provided a text from the Ridgefield LWV president discussing the cancellation of debate plans in both Ridgefield and Redding.
Nestor said she was disappointed that she would not get to debate Sarelli live, but more importantly, “I think the community should be disappointed. I am disappointed for the 26th District.”
“A debate is really seeing what you’re made of and how you think on your feet…what your knowledge is and how well you listen,” she said.
Sarelli, a member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting, District 6, did not respond to an email or phone call seeking comment on this matter. Nick Marini, who is listed as a media contact on a press release for Sarelli’s campaign, declined to comment.
Four years ago, she did participate in an LWV when she ran against Democrat Jonathan Steinberg for the 136th State Representative District. Steinberg, the incumbent, won that race, 7,294 votes to 3,276.
The Westport Journal emailed all four LWV chapters involved and has not received a response.
The Westport LWV had planned its debate in partnership with Sustainable Westport and Earthplace.
“After careful consideration and deliberation, the organizations have decided to cancel the debate following notification from the campaign of the Republican candidate that she will not participate, creating an ‘empty chair’” situation,” the Westport LWV announcement said.
LWV debate guidelines require at least two candidates on a ballot to participate, the organization said.
“After considering the circumstances and the League’s long-standing practices for conducting fair and nonpartisan candidate debates, the planning committee determined that cancellation was the appropriate course of action,” the announcement said.
Nestor and Sarelli are vying in the Nov. 3 election for the seat now held by Ceci Maher, who is not running for re-election.
Nestor said she had been eager to face Sarelli and sees the ability to debate as essential to a state senator’s job.
“If you want this job, its de rigueur that you are able to stand in front of a group or stand next to each other and debate,” she said. She said she stands ready to meet with District 26 residents, and still to debate with Sarelli, if her opponent is willing.
“I hope she’ll have a change of heart, and we can get together in another venue,” she said.
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