Rep. Young a No Show for Debate

Last week the Seminole Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters scheduled a public debate at St. Petersburg College's Seminole Campus between Rep. C.W. Bill Young and his opponent, Jessica Ehrlich. 

The debate, however, never took place. Young, whose office is in the same building as the scheduled debate, did not show up. 

On Friday last week, his Democratic opponent pounced on Young's absence at the debate and for appearing at the private fundraiser the next day. 

Ehrlich issued a statement Sept. 7:

Last night, Bill Young ducked yet another public debate but today he found the time to speak behind closed doors at a member's only reception. To date, this makes three missed opportunities for Young to engage in the democratic process by discussing the issues most important to the people of Pinellas. 

Last night's Seminole Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters forum was held in the same building as Young's district congressional office and yet Young gave no reason for his absence from the event. Still running and hiding from his vote to turn Medicare into a voucher program, Young could not even walk down the hall to address the crowd of voters gathered at the Forum to hear all other candidates in the area from County Commissioners to Sheriff. However, Bill Young did manage to find the time to speak at a closed-door, members-only event today.

After the third canceled public debate, Jessica Ehrlich has challenged Bill Young to three televised debates. As of the sending of this release, there has been no reply to the Ehrlich campaign or the voters of Pinellas County."

"It has been decades since a congressional debate was held here in Pinellas County," said Ehrlich in the news release. "The voters here deserve a discussion on the issues that affect their daily lives."

According to a, Young has a sizeable lead in the race just months before the election. In that poll, Young lead Ehrlich 50 percent to 38 percent with 11 percent undecided. 

Young is currently the longest serving Republican member of the U.S. Congress.

Patch reached out to Young's office in Seminole for comment, but calls were not returned.