New Broom Coalition

09/26/2008
Without third-party candidates, CCSU won't host debate
By BRIAN WOODMAN JR. , Journal Register News Service

Green Party candidate Harold Burbank, left, and independent
Thomas Winn have been judged by the League of Women Voters to be ineligible
to participate in an Oct. 11 debate for the 5th Congressional District.
The local debate in the race for the 5th Congressional District
has lost its home.

Democratic incumbent Chris Murphy and Republican challenger
David Cappiello, of the state's 24th District, agreed to an Oct. 11 debate
sponsored by the League of Women Voters to be held at Central Connecticut
State University in New Britain.

The exclusion of independent candidate Thomas Winn and Green
Party candidate Harold Burbank has caused the university to back out.

Advertisement

"We've hosted the League of Women Voters' political debates
several times, and we are proud of our association with the League," said
Mark McLaughlin, associate vice president of university marketing and
communications. "In this matter, however, the League is welcome to do what
it wants, but CCSU cannot participate in the event nor serve as the venue if
candidates are excluded."

The university, as a nonprofit organization, was bound by IRS
regulations, he said.

But the league is also bound by rules, said Jara Burnett,
president of the league, and the state board of directors determined Burbank
and Winn did not meet its debate eligibility requirements.

The criteria include whether candidates have a formal campaign
with headquarters and other features, published position papers, broad voter
support and significant campaign contributions. The directors questioned the
candidates' funding levels and whether they demonstrated enough voter
outreach, and Burbank did not submit sufficient documentation regarding
issues relevant to the district, directors said.

"I feel that they did not fulfill our criteria," Burnett said
Friday. "This decision was not taken lightly. It was based on materials the
candidates provided."

While the process was skewed toward candidates from the major
parties, the organization does provide an online voter guide with
information on all the candidates, she said.

Burbank called the league's requirements "simply
unconstitutional bias."

The league gets federal funding and expects media coverage of
debates, "which now amount to political advertisement contributions to
Democrat and Republican campaigns only. The U.S. Constitution First
Amendment, severely eroded as it is under President Bush, will not permit
such grossly unequal political speech access to the public airwaves," he
said in a statement.

Burbank, who is endorsed by former Green Party presidential
candidate Ralph Nader, said party members may protest league events. He is
considering filing a Federal Communications Commission complaint against the
league.

Winn, who has never run for elected office, said he would like
to hold an alternative debate - preferably with Burbank.

Winn criticized Cappiello and Murphy for participating in the
league's event without requesting he and Burbank participate.

"They should ask that there be all or none," he said. "'If all
ideas are not being evenly represented, we shouldn't have them,' they should
be saying. I'm so angry right now."

Murphy would like to see all four candidates participate, said
Kenny Curran, campaign manager for Murphy.

Adam Bauer, a Cappiello spokesman, said the Republican's
campaign hadn't been contacted directly on the matter and is "withholding
judgment until CCSU and the league has reached a decision. We are interested
in seeing the debate go forward."

Burnett said the excluded candidates could resubmit materials. A
committee of board members is meeting this weekend through a conference call
to examine new information submitted by Burbank.

Other 5th District debates are scheduled for Oct. 15 in
Waterbury, Oct. 20 in Meriden, Oct. 22 in Litchfield and Oct. 29 in Danbury.

©The Herald 2008