|
Hennigan asks mayor to debate
Andrea Estes, Globe Staff
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Councilor Maura Hennigan yesterday challenged Mayor Thomas M. Menino --
in Latin -- to a series of debates, saying she will repeat the call in
every language in every neighborhood of the city.
''The mayor is afraid to debate," said Hennigan. ''Praefectus urbis
Menino colloquii virtutem non habet."
''By the time this campaign is over, I'll say it in every single
language -- Spanish, French Creole, Vietnamese, Chinese. He doesn't want
to defend his record. Not only does he refuse to defend his record, he
doesn't want to articulate a vision for the future. Why after 12 years
should the people of this city want to reelect him if he won't stand up to
the scrutiny of the electoral process?"
Hennigan is calling for a series of five single-topic debates on the
campaign's key issues: property taxes, education, housing, public safety,
and basic city services. The public would be invited to ask candidates
questions, she said. She said she decided to issue the challenge after
Menino said on Sunday that he plans to meet with voters at town
meeting-type forums.
''He wants to do them without me," she laughed.
Hennigan had challenged Menino to debates earlier in the campaign and
said yesterday he had no excuses for not debating now that candidates'
nomination signatures have been certified. Both Menino and Hennigan
gathered more than the 3,000 signatures required to appear on the ballot.
Former city councilor Gareth Saunders and South Boston Republican John
Hanney failed to get enough signatures.
''I look forward to the chance to contrast my vision for Boston's
future with the vision of someone who is seeking their fourth term as
mayor," Hennigan said.
Mitch Kates, her campaign manager, said in a written statement: ''The
mayor is very good at showing up for ribbon cuttings and tree plantings,
but he has the bad habit of avoiding the tough questions. In a debate he
can't shy away from honest answers the people deserve."
Menino could not be reached for comment. His campaign manager, Beth
Leonard, would not answer directly whether the mayor will debate
Hennigan.
''The mayor believes that people should hear from both candidates in a
public forum, and we'll discuss the details when the time is right,"
Leonard said.
Asked to elaborate, she said, ''People should hear from both
candidates, but the time is not right."
Click here for more News Stories
|