Skibitsky Declines Brennan's Debate Challenge

Republican Mayor Andy Skibitsky has declined Democratic challenger Bill Brennan’s proposal that the pair meet for four debates, one in each of the town’s council wards.

Skibitsky said he prefers to meet Brennan for one debate, the traditional League of Women Voters candidates’ night in October. He said until then he would prefer talking with voters during door-to-door visits and attending meetings with community groups.

“You have to meet with people and meet with community groups and hear what’s on their minds,” Skibitsky said, noting this is what he considered to be the key to running a successful campaign in Westfield.

Brennan, a former town judge, sought to change the way campaigns operate in Westfield by proposing last week to scrap the traditional forum in exchange for four debates. He said he wanted the two mayoral candidates to face off one-on-one instead of in the large group setting the October event features. The October forum allows each of the 10 municipal candidates to answer questions in one large panel, giving brief responses to questions.

The traditional debate consists of moderator-asked questions from the audience. Audience members at the forum, and similar ones in other communities, traditionally consist of supporters of the two campaigns.

Brennan outlined a proposal, which he said would be based on the debates used in the presidential campaign. He would like one debate featuring questions from a panel of local journalists, another in a town hall format, a third allowing him and Skibitsky to question each other and a fourth allowing students at Westfield High School to ask questions. Brennan said with parking and other student issues becoming bigger in town, he would like to give students the opportunity to question the candidates.

“I will meet him anytime, anywhere,” Brennan said.

Unlike the governor’s race, where candidates accepting public funds legally have to participate in a debate, there is nothing forcing either candidate to attend any debate or joint appearance during the campaign.

Skibitsky said he is not ducking the chance to debate Brennan, but wants to concentrate on his grassroots campaign and then participate in a debate.

“I am looking forward to debating him and I will debate him at the traditional League of Women Voters debate in the fall,” Skibitsky said.

Brennan’s strategy of calling for more debates is not unique. Many challengers at all political levels request more debates, seeing it as a way to put themselves on the same level as the incumbents. Brennan himself acknowledged that his proposal was in line with many political challengers. He also said that he was expecting Skibitsky to take the traditional incumbent’s response to the proposal and decline.

“I am expecting him to say no,” Brennan said. “If I get a positive response, I will be floored.”