GEORGE WANTS DEBATE FOR U.S. HOUSE SEAT

Cape Coral independent says Mack denying voters vital opportunity

FORT MYERS, July 10, 2008 – Congressional candidate Jeff George is ready to debate, even if incumbent Connie Mack is not.

The Cape Coral resident and U.S. Army veteran is joining a growing chorus in calling for a series of public debates this fall involving Mack and all three challengers for the District 14 seat.

“One of my goals since we began this campaign was to make sure that Southwest Florida finally got a chance to see Rep. Mack explain and defend his position in an open forum,” George said.

Fellow independent U.S. House of Representatives hopeful Burt Saunders on Tuesday sent an e-mail to Mack inviting him to participate in a series of town hall meetings or debates that would take place in the two months leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

Jeff Cohen, Mack’s chief of staff, rejected the request in a response sent to the state senator.

“If and when any challenger to Congressman Mack - whether that is you (Senator Saunders) an Independent, Robert Neeld, a Democrat, or Jeff George, an Independent - becomes a viable opponent we will of course consider their request for a debate,” Cohen is quoted as saying in a press release from the Saunders campaign.

George, who is willing to assist any organization in setting up a debate, said Mack is denying his constituents the opportunity they deserve to hear the candidates discuss their views on the issues of utmost importance to Southwest Florida.

“It’s not the job of Connie Mack or Jeff Cohen to determine who is a viable candidate,” George said. “That’s up to the voters to decide, and Congressman Mack needs to realize he’s in office to serve the people of this district, and not the other way around.”

George, part-owner of a video production company, is endeavoring to give the people of Southwest Florida unprecedented access to the inner workings of his campaign.

He has used cameras to provide streaming online video of day-to-day work at his Fort Myers headquarters and document interaction with organizations and individuals across the district.

Those live videos and archived clips of events from the past several months are available on George’s Web site, www.jeffgeorgeforcongress.com.

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