NO DEBATE INVITATION ACCEPTANCES FROM HIRONO WITH FOUR MONTHS TO PRIMARY
Ten Invitations And Growing Include Five Statewide Televised Debates
News Release from Case Campaign Committee April 12, 2012
With less than four months remaining to Hawaii's August 11th Democratic primary, U. S. Senate candidate and former U. S. Congressman Ed Case has accepted ten Senate debate/joint appearance invitations from media and community organizations across Hawaii, while his opponent, U. S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, has accepted none.
The invites date back to last year and include five statewide televised debates. A list of the invites thus far and the details of each is below.
Hirono has replied since January that she would participate in "constructive forums which provide voters useful information, have meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties." She has also said that she would "be releasing her proposed criteria for evaluating joint appearances."
But she has not agreed to any forums and has not released her "proposed criteria". She has, though, returned home frequently to campaign, including the last two weeks.
Further debate/joint appearance invites are expected as voters focus on this crucial election. They include the Democratic Party of Hawaii (annual convention May 25th-27th), the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce (July 24th-26th), The Mike Buck Show (to accommodate U. S. House schedule) and The Rick Hamada Show (to accommodate U. S. House schedule). Case has tentatively accepted all.
Just four months remain to the August 11th primary, with absentee voting starting in less than three months. The U. S. House is scheduled to be out of session for over half of that period (74 days), including five full weeks and five four day weekends, during which debates and joint appearances throughout Hawaii will not interfere with Hirono's schedule.
U. S. SENATE HIRONO-CASE DEBATE STATUS UPDATE
April 12, 2012 (Four Months to Primary Election)
(1) Sponsor: Smart Business Hawaii
Event: Senate candidate forum at annual convention
Invite date: October 2011
Event date: January 11, 2012 (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Participated
Hirono: Did not participate
(2) Sponsor: Democratic Party of Hawaii
Event: Case suggested DPH-sponsored statewide debates
Invite date: January 3, 2011
Event dates: When U. S. House not in session
Status: DPH Chair Carpenter agreed if Hirono agreed. Hirono's spokesperson
responded that she "will participate in constructive forums which provide voters useful
information, have meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties.
We will be releasing our proposed criteria for evaluating joint appearances". No criteria have
been released and no DPH-sponsored debates have been scheduled.
(3) Sponsor: KITV4/Civil Beat
Event: Statewide televised debate
Invite date: January 30, 2012
Event date: June 13th (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted. Hirono's spokesperson responded on February 29th:
"She intends to participate in constructive events which provide voters useful information, have
meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties."
(4) Sponsor: KHON2
Event: Statewide televised debate
Invite date: February 1, 2012
Event date: Week of July 23rd (or otherwise to accommodate U. S. House schedule)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(5) Sponsor: Hawaii News Now/Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Event: Two statewide televised debates
Invite date: March 12, 2012
Event date: One in May and one in July; any Monday through Thursday to accommodate U. S. House schedule
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted. Hirono's spokesperson responded on March 13th that she
will "participate in constructive forums which provide voters useful information, have
meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties."
(6) Sponsor: Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce/other Hawaii Island organizations
Event: West Hawaii Senate candidate forum with live radio and online streaming
Invite date: March 15, 2012
Event date: July 9th, 16th or 23rd, later narrowed to July 16th (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(7) Sponsor: Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association
Event: Oahu and Hawaii Island Senate panel discussions on tourism and visitor industry
Invite date: March 16, 2012
Event dates: May 29th (Oahu; U. S. House not in session) and May 30th (Waikoloa)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(8) Sponsor: Hawaii Pacific University
Event: University-wide candidate forum
Invite date: March 20, 2012
Event date: As mutually agreed to accommodate U. S. House schedule
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(9) Sponsor: Hawaii Public Television
Event: Statewide televised joint appearance on "Island Insights"
Invite date: April 6, 2012
Event date: June 14th (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted
(10) Sponsor: Hawaii Island Democratic Party
Event: Debate at county convention
Invite date: April 8, 2012
Event date: May 5, 2012 (U. S. House not in session)
Case: Accepted
Hirono: Has not accepted