(via press release from the Hicks campaign)
Josh Hicks, Democrat for Congress in KY-6, today renewed his debate challenge to Rep. Garland “Andy” Barr IV. Nearly a month has passed since Hicks first issued the challenge, with no response from Barr.
Hicks issued the following statement:
Andy Barr is out of touch with the people of Kentucky. Nearly a month after I suggested a series of five televised debates, I’ve received no response from him, and he has only accepted one debate, where I’ve accepted four. At the same time, he’s aired commercial after commercial lying about me. I can only assume the man is scared.
He doesn’t want to answer for the federal government’s incompetent response to the coronavirus. He doesn’t want to explain why he’s taken millions of dollars from corporate PACs, the Wall Street banks, and big drug companies that have ravaged our communities. He doesn’t want to tell you why he’s bailed out huge corporations but failed to help our schools, fire departments, and police departments cover the cost of this pandemic. I will remind you, Andy: You don’t work for the Wall Street banks or the big drug companies. You work for us.”
Hicks challenged Barr to a series of five debates earlier this month. The proposal was posted on social media and sent via certified mail to Barr’s Lexington PO Box — and was confirmed as delivered and received. Since that time, Hicks has continued accepting debate invitations, and has now agreed to debates hosted by WKYT and the League of Women Voters, KET, the Rotary Club Lexington, and Together Frankfort. Barr has accepted only one invitation.
The race for KY-6 has been contentious, with Barr making a number of unfounded claims in a series of campaign commercials. Barr recently said he supports protecting people with pre-existing conditions, despite having voted repeatedly to take away those protections. The Lexington Herald-Leader debunked that claim in an article published last week.
“I want to see if he has the nerve to lie to my face the way he’s lied in his commercials,” Hicks said.
The only debate currently scheduled between the candidates will take place Monday, October 5, 7-8 pm on WKYT. Two years ago, Barr complained that Amy McGrath wouldn’t debate him more, at one point even suggesting seven debates. He issued similar proposals in 2010 and in 2012.
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