From today’s News-Gazette (H/T to brilliant reader Ryan):
Mayor Jerry Schweighart this week said he had to cancel his participation in a University of Illinois student-sponsored debate that had been scheduled for March 7 because of “family problems that I have to leave town for that day.”
…
“It’s been on again, off again,” Schweighart said on Monday. “I told them no, then I told them I’d do it, and then I had to tell them no again.”
In the article, Schweighart also denies receiving invites to participate in any other debates, which contradicts statements made by the Junior League’s Jen Parastaran.
We’re waiting for a response to emails sent to the League of Women Voters to see if they have any interest in hosting a debate. So far, Schweighart’s strategy seems to be suggesting that he’ll only participate in debates sponsored by organizations who have expressed no interest in sponsoring them. We’ll see how this develops.
UPDATE (8:05 p.m. 3/1/11): From Carol Rebeiz, Chair, League of Women Voters of Champaign County (LWVCC) Voter Service Committee:
“We have been asked to sponsor a candidate forum at Parkland and have arranged to co-host it with the Champaign County NAACP. This forum is for the 7 candidates for the 3 positions on the Parkland College Board and will be held on Thursday, March 24 from 7-9 pm at the Tony Noel Center.
“We will also co-sponsor a forum with the NAACP for the Champaign Mayoral candidates and the 3 Write-In candidates for Champaign City Council District 5. Once we have our plans finalized, I will let you know the place, date and time.”