Dougherty frustrated by Bartlett’s unwillingness to debate

Democratic congressional candidate Jennifer DoughertyFormer Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty (D) has repeatedly expressed frustration with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) for his refusal to debate his challenger in Maryland's Sixth Congressional District.

The latest instance came last Wednesday night, when Dougherty and Independent candidate Gary Hoover participated in a question and answer forum in Jarrettsville; Bartlett was not present.

"This does not serve the voters very well," Dougherty told PolitickerMD.com. "At least give them the courtesy of showing up."

Lisa Wright, the congressman's press secretary, said "there was no way" Bartlett could have attended the debate last week because "there were votes that night" in Congress.

"He was hired by the voters to represent the Sixth District," Wright said. "He was doing the job he was elected to do."

Dougherty, however, claims that her press office contacted the Bartlett campaign approximately five times in a two-period after her Feb. 12 primary victory to discuss the possibility of a debate, only to be turned away.

"He has to face the voters," Dougherty said. "He has to explain why traffic congestion, gas prices, and job losses have gone through the roof under his watch."

Dougherty said she has already agreed to a debate on Oct. 23 sponsored by the Hagerstown-based Herald-Mail and the Hagerstown Chamber of Commerce. Wright would not say if the congressman would participate.

"It is Jennifer Dougherty's job to introduce herself to the voters, not Congressman Bartlett's," Wright said.

"It is not typical for candidates to schedule debates with their opponents," Wright added.

She said Bartlett would "consider" future participation, adding, "Congressman Bartlett's record is very well known to the voters."

Meanwhile, Dougherty said she would "clear my schedule" to debate the congressman.

"We'll keep at it," Dougherty said.