An effort by Fourth Congressional District candidate Renee Hoagenson to push U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler into a series of town hall-style debates fell flat this week.

On Wednesday, Hoagenson, a Democrat, issued a news release announcing that “on September 17, 18, and 19, the candidates will have their first three debates, in Fayette, Belton, and Columbia.”

The release then used quotes from Hartzler on the value of debates and town hall events.

“Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler has championed public debates, saying they are ‘a great dialogue,’” the release stated. “Hartzler has also added, ‘Thomas Jefferson said the basis of our government is the opinion of the people... That is why town meetings are vital to our democracy.’

The release did not mention that Hartzler, a Republican seeking her fifth term, had not agreed to debate in any of those cities.

“We knew nothing about these debates until this news release,” Hartzler campaign manager Nathan Adams said.

Hoagenson’s campaign sent a letter dated last Friday to Hartzler, stating the Democrat’s campaign had “pro-actively identified dates and locations to accommodate your schedule.”

The letter was the campaign’s challenge to Hartzler to debate, said Dan Sahr, Hoagenson's campaign manager. The dates are during a Congressional recess, when members are not expected to be in Washington for votes or committee meetings.

“We are trying to move the ball here,” Sahr said. “We are completely open to negotiation if that is what it takes.”

Sahr also said the venues were “rock solid” for the dates and times involved. If Hartzler doesn’t want to debate on those dates, he said, Hoagenson will hold a town-hall forum in each location, he said.

However, the University of Missouri and Central Methodist University, the hosts, respectively, of the Columbia and Fayette events, said they have not scheduled anything for those times.

The release stated the MU event would take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.

“There was an initial inquiry from the College Democrats, a Mizzou student group, asking if they could book Jesse Wrench Auditorium,” said Christian Basi, MU spokesman. “There was no confirmation ever completed on that.”

Central Methodist would be willing to host a debate if both candidates confirm they will participate, said Scott Queen, university spokesman. That has not occurred, he said. The release stated the debate would take place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 17.

“I don’t know where date and time came from,” he said.

In an interview, Adams criticized the tone of the release, called it misleading and said it was an attempt to bully Hartzler into appearing on stage with her rival.

“Miss Hoagenson’s hypocrisy clearly knows no bounds as she works to deceive Missourians about debates,” Adams said. “On one hand she wishes to invoke Jefferson but with the other engage in tactics that are left for bullies. Sorry, but Vicky does not engage with bullies.”

When Hartzler was a challenger to U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Lexington, in 2010, she used his unwillingness to hold town hall meetings against him and called on him to debate. In past two years, Hartzler has only held town hall meeting by telephone, avoiding unscripted, in-person events.

Constituents are eager to hear from their representatives and candidates, and Hartzler should not fear that, Sahr said. The release and the letter were intended to get Hartzler’s attention and make her face voters, he said.

“Everyone here and everyone we talk to says it is a special, unique cycle,” Sahr said. “People are crying out to hear from their actual representatives and those aspiring to represent them. We just don’t have a lot of faith that Rep. Hartzler is going to understand that, that she is going to agree with that sentiment.”

rkeller@columbiatribune.com

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