A July 12 pre-primary debate planned by The Palm Beach Post and WPTV Channel 5 between Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs and former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel won’t happen because Frankel refused to participate.
But Jacobs, the underdog in the Democratic race for the U.S. House District 22 seat, is pressuring Frankel to change her mind.
Jacobs’ campaign manager Marcia Monserrat sent Frankel’s campaign chief Greg Richardson a letter today asking for four debates before the Aug. 14 primary. The winner of the Democratic race will face off against Republican Adam Hasner. The seat, now held by U.S. Rep. Allen West, was redrawn and is now a Democratic-leaning district that encompasses parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Jacobs is asking Frankel for two debates in each county.
Frankel, a former state representative who also served as the state House Democratic Leader, has been in the race longer and is sitting on a much fatter war chest. While she refused the invitation to debate on July 12, Frankel hasn’t ruled out another date before the primary election.
“It’s time for Democratic voters to see the candidates side-by-side and hear where we stand on the issues,” Jacobs said in a press release. “Voters deserve to know about the key differences between the candidates. That’s why I’m calling for a total of four debates, two in each county, so that people can hear from the candidates about the issues that matter most.”
