No debate for 8th District candidates

MARBLEHEAD – After more than a month of discussion on what format a debate should take, it has been decided there will be no debate.
Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) and Republican John Blaisdell (R-Marblehead) are both vying for the 8th Essex District seat, which is comprised of Marblehead, Swampscott and Lynn’s Ward 3, Precinct 4 and Ward 4, Precinct 4.
Swampscott League of Women Voters President Cathy Vaucher said the candidates could not agree on a format for the debate.
?The biggest sticking point had to do with where the questions were generated from,” she said. “The Ehrlich campaign was comfortable with the League (of Women Voters) coming up with questions. The Blaisdell campaign was not comfortable with that and wanted a back and forth debate.”
Vaucher said as a compromise the League of Women Voters suggested candidates generate questions, which would be asked by a moderator.
?The Ehrlich campaign was uncomfortable with that,” Vaucher said. “We are very disappointed that we were not able to come up with a format that was agreeable to everyone. We strongly urge the candidates to find other means to meet and hear the concerns of their constituents.”
Blaisdell said it didn’t matter who generated the questions as long as the questions were “of substance” and candidates have an opportunity for rebuttal.
?She (Ehrlich) declined,” he said. “Her position was if there was an opportunity for rebuttal it should limited to 30 seconds. What I really wanted to do is have an opportunity to question her voting record in the legislature.”
Ehrlich said her campaign offered many options that would have served the voters, but Blaisdell would not agree.
?Throughout this process along with League of Women Voters (LWV), my campaign has offered many options that would maintain a level of civility and impartiality in a debate,” she said. “We have met many demands of my opponent’s campaign while making few demands of our own. I accepted the first format offered by the LWV by providing them with four dates of availability, but much to my surprise, my opponent would not agree to have local reporters moderating the debate ? stating the reporters would not be impartial.”
The two candidates did go head to head this year at a Marblehead League of Women Voters forum just prior to the March 4 special election to fill the seat vacated by former State Rep. Douglas Petersen after he resigned. In the March 4 special election Ehrlich received 56.6 percent of the vote and Blaisdell received 34.6 percent. Independent Mark Barry, who received the remainder of the votes is not running this time around.