Stockwell: I want seat at debates

LYNN – Independent candidate Chris Stockwell wants to know why he isn’t included to date in upcoming 6th Congressional District debates, but Democrat Seth Moulton and Republican Richard Tisei’s representatives said they have made no move to exclude Stockwell.With the final election looming on Nov. 4, Tisei and Moulton have agreed to participate in up to 10 debates or forums. Most of the faceoffs are on radio or television programs, but the first debate will be on Friday, Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. before Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce members.The chamber’s website bills the Porthole Pub debate as “… a business-issue debate with candidates Richard Tisei and Seth Moulton.” Chamber President Leslie Gould said the debate is scheduled for an hour.”Because this is a chamber event with a limited timeframe, after thoughtful discussion, our board decided it would be most impactful to focus on the two main-party candidates,” Gould stated by email Tuesday.Stockwell said he wants to take part in the debate.”I don’t think I’ve got an invitation. If it’s a chamber of commerce debate, and they are talking about business, I think I would have a lot to say,” Stockwell said.The self-described independent jumped into the race a day after Moulton beat U.S. Rep. John Tierney and three other Democratic candidates in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary.Stockwell’s campaign brochure lists him as senior vice president for a Woburn engineering and scientific firm.Moulton spokeswoman Carrie Rankin said the chamber debate will give the Democrat a chance to highlight his experience founding a health care business early in a career marked by Moulton’s service in Iraq as a Marine and his recent experience, according to his resume, managing a high-speed rail project in Texas.”Lynn is important, especially with Seth’s and Rich’s experience as entrepreneurs,” Rankin said.Tisei runs a real estate business, and Tisei spokesman Charlie Szold said the Republican is looking forward to debating Moulton in Lynn. Szold said Tisei campaign representatives did not oppose Stockwell’s participation in the Oct. 10 debate.”We’d like an opportunity to debate directly with Seth and really give voters a good sense of where we are coming from,” he said.