In a few months, Alabamians will once again decide who will be their next governor.

Their choice lies between Republican, incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey and Democratic-hopeful Walt Maddox.

Thus far the two candidates have yet to go head-to-head in a debate, but Maddox would like to change that.

On Tuesday, he sent a formal letter to Ivey requesting that she join him a series of gubernatorial debates to give the voters a chance to make a fair decision.

“As you know, Alabama is facing many challenges. We can both agree that we owe the people of this state an opportunity to hear directly our specific plans to address these issues and lead our state forward into the future,” Maddox explained in the letter. “Accordingly, I am proposing that you and I agree to participate in four debates covering different topics and conducted in both standard debate and town hall formats.”

Maddox proposed two hour debates on the following debate topics, noting the the format, moderator(s), location, times and place be agreed upon by their respective campaigns:

Debate One : Education and Economic Development

: Education and Economic Development Debate Two : Public Safety, Health Care and Infrastructure

: Public Safety, Health Care and Infrastructure Debate Three : Town Hall Meeting in a major Alabama city

: Town Hall Meeting in a major Alabama city Debate Four: Town Hall Meeting in a rural Alabama county

Ivey’s history of dodging debates

In all reality, Ivey’s deflect and dodge strategy shouldn’t be all that surprising as it’s what voters have seen from her in campaign-mode for months now.

Ivey drew criticism from her opponents —Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower and evangelist Scott Dawson — throughout the Republican primary process where they called on her to show up, and discuss her ideas. She declined all offers, saying that as the current-Governor her schedule was too full to fulfill their requests.

Maddox, the Tuscaloosa-mayor who handily won the Democratic nomination, hoped things would change following the June 5 primaries, when he first invited her to debate via a text message.

He said he believed Alabama voters deserve to hear from both candidates on how they plan to address the state’s problems in health care, education and infrastructure.

At the time, Ivey’s campaign spokeswoman Debbee Hancock responded, ‘There will be plenty of time for these discussions and decisions’ in the months ahead.”

Now, Maddox is holding Ivey that response, “I am confident that with more than three months remaining, and with so much at stake, we will make this happen for the people of Alabama.”

Maddox and Ivey face-off Nov 6 in the general election. It remains to be seen wether or not she will ignore Maddox’s persistent calls to action.

View the letter below:

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