Buffalo, NY (WBEN) This morning's debate at St. Joe's between Assemblymember Patrick Burke and challenger Gary Dickson marks a bucking of a trend: fewer debates, which is concerning to Tuesday's debate moderator.
"I think the trend is very real, especially here in this state," says Ted Lina. Lina says there is one main reason. "The main reason would be gerrymandering. So, from my experience, when you have one candidate ahead in the polls by quite a large portion, they're not willing to debate because they're afraid of making a mistake. So, generally, you'll see the challengers more willing than the incumbents, unless there happens to be some personal issue that's been brought about or otherwise."
Lina calls the trend a tragedy. "For the race for governor, we have one debate in a studio, that almost everybody I spoke to was unaware of the debate, and on top of that, you would have to you would have to subscribe to Spectrum, and not everybody has cable television. What's very unfortunate and alarming to me, as a person who spent his adult life talking about the significance of the government, is the candidates are so unwilling to present their views and be challenged regarding those views either by a debate moderator panel or their opposition. So I'm very very alarmed by all of this," says Lina.
He says the traditional format of a debate doesn't need to be changed. "It's not the format; it's going public with it and being challenged. And if you're ahead in the poll, especially in a gerrymander district, they believe they have nothing to gain and everything to lose. So I don't think changing the format of the debate would affect it at all," says Lina.
Lina believes there should be a minimum number of debates for offices. "A minimum would be two, and I think the ideal would be three," notes Lina. "If you're looking at a chief executive position such as governor, you would certainly want one in key urban areas, especially at the minimum for Governor Western New York, and also the city of New York area. For president, I think it should be three, and for other offices, I would recommend two debates, so that people have a greater opportunity to attend a debate or to watch the debate in the manner in which it's presented."
St. Joe's has been holding an annual debate for more than 40 years.
St. Joe's debate moderator says the trend is disturbing
St. Joe's debate moderator says the trend is disturbing
