Scotch Plains, NJ – Mayor Martin Marks, Republican candidate for Congress in the Seventh District, today announces that he is challenging all Republican candidates to a series of candidate debates.  The challenge calls for four candidate debates with Union, Hunterdon, Middlesex, and Somerset counties hosting one debate each.

“With less than two months remaining until the primary, I believe it is imperative for the voters of the Seventh District to see their Republican candidates for U.S Congress together, discussing the important issues that working families face each day,” said Marks.

The content of the invitation, which was sent to all the declared Republican candidates, is below.

Dear Fellow Candidate:The primary election this June will be a defining moment for the citizens of the Seventh District and, indeed, for the State of New Jersey. As I travel across the district, I continue to find many citizens who are interested in the positions that distinguish you and me in this campaign.

I believe the people of the Seventh District deserve to have the opportunity to hear, in a public debate, our positions on the critical issues and what our vision is for the district, the state, and our nation. I would invite you to participate, as well as the other Republican candidates, with me in four such public discussions over the next two months. I would propose that the debates be held in each of the four counties of the district and be structured to cover specific areas of policy and concern. This will allow the largest number of citizens to benefit from the debates, while illuminating our positions on a broad spectrum of issues.

We can finalize dates, locations, and topics after your acceptance of my offer.I believe the people of the Seventh District are interested in this idea and deserve to hear from us in an environment free of meaningless campaign rhetoric.

I look forward to hearing from you and I know the citizens of the Seventh District await your decision.

“The history of our election process in the Seventh District shows us that debates have been a vital part of educating the voters to the issues and the stand of the candidates on those issues.  These debates that I am proposing will help the voters to get to really know the candidates. I hope that each of the candidates will accept this challenge and work with my campaign to make these debates a reality”, Marks concluded.

Martin Marks is a lifelong resident of the 7th Congressional District who shares the concerns and values of families and taxpayers. He is the only true conservative in the field for the Republican primary, and will bring core Republican principles on taxing, spending, national security and more back to Washington. For more information on Martin Marks, please visit www.MarksforCongress2008.com 

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Paid for by Marks for Congress