Faye Armitage, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress 7th District, issued a renewed challenge to Republican incumbent John Mica to debate her.

Faye Armitage, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress 7th District, issued a renewed challenge to Republican incumbent John Mica to debate her. She sent a certified letter to Mica's campaign Friday:

Mr. John Mica:
When I became the Democratic nominee for the 7th Florida Congressional District, in the true spirit of Democracy, I issued you a challenge to seven debates; your silence is deafening.

I believe the people here in the 7th District deserve the opportunity to judge for themselves who will be their choice to represent them in Congress. Your lack of consideration on this point makes it appear that you take your role as representative of the people of Florida’s 7th District for granted. Again, for the benefit of the people of the 7th District, I challenge you to three televised debates between October 20 and 31 on all three of the local affiliate stations. By agreeing to these debates you will allow the people of the 7th District what most would consider the minimum expectations of their representatives, the opportunity that is basic to our Democratic system of government: to make an informed decision for whom they will cast their vote.

It would appear that you have hidden yourself from view instead of making yourself available to the people you represent who are concerned with the many issues that effect their lives, such as why, during the most devastating financial crisis since the Great Depression, you voted ‘no’ for the financial bailout that was put forth by your own parties’ administration? It could appear that you did so for political reasons, i.e. in order to blame the Democrats for the financial crisis, but one might also conclude that you voted ‘no’ for reasons of ideology, i.e. that you believe in no government regulation of markets, which is what has led to this financial mess in the first place. The fact is no one knows why you voted the way you did on this or many other issues because you have yet to stand before your constituents and defend your record. I am beginning to believe that you are afraid to stand before the people of Florida’s 7th District because you are afraid that your record is indefensible. I fully understand that this is how you feel given the dire circumstances which, under your leadership, the country now finds itself.

Your party has had control of both the legislative and executive branch of government for the better part of eight years, diminished only by the mid-term elections that saw so many Republicans get tossed out of Washington. Now you must own every bit of responsibility for the part you played in putting the country in such dire straits. You have been in Congress for sixteen years and the evidence is now in on your leadership: no good. Your ‘Republican Revolution’ ideology has resulted in the utter devastation of the people of this district’s jobs, incomes, and retirement savings. People are hurting and deserve the chance to hear from you. I challenge you to debate me. I stand for change. I will listen to the people, not just wealthy people but people of all walks of life. I come from the middle class and will champion the working people struggling in today’s economy, the retirees who have seen their savings disappear, and the business owners who just want the chance to achieve the kind of prosperity that has been the cornerstone of American life. I come from these people and I understand that they want to hear from those who represent them. So, I implore you to have the courage to stand up for yourself and defend your record.

Sincerely,
Faye Armitage
Democratic Nominee for U.S. Congress
Florida 7th District