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Smith seeks
debate series
Slaughter declines,
calls it play for press
By BURKE DAVIS III
Arund«l Newspapers Staff Writer
Democratic candidate David Smith tried to light a fire under the Seventh District Congressional race Monday, challenging Republican incumbent D. French Slaughter Jr. to a series of debates.
Mr. Smith’s invitation came in a letter that he handed to Rep. Slaughter’s chief aide, Rick Holcomb, during a gathering in Winchester of a Realtors’ association. The personal delivery of the letter was written into Mr. Smith’s speech. Holcomb appeared at the campaign event in Rep. Slaughter’s stead.
Rep. Slaughter responded in a letter to Mr. Smith on the same day, sidestepping the invitation without firmly shutting the door on debates. “Certainly as time passes we may have the opportunity for joint appearances,” Mr. Slaughter wrote.
Mr. Sijiith called for a series of debates beginning in September. He said that he hopes a “respected, non-partisan organization” will organize and moderate the debates.
Campaign manager Susan Platt said later that a Kiwanis Club in the area was considering sponsorship of at least one debate. She said that, as of Tuesday, the Slaughter campaing had not committed to a date.
“The voters of the Seventh District expect and deserve a thorough discussion of the issues in order that they may make an informed decision,” Mr. Smith wrote * in his letter to Rep. Slaughter.
One issue the challenger can be counted on to attack is the savings and loan bailout. In a press release last week and in his speech to the real estate group in Winchester Mr. Smith hammered on the theme, saying that Rep. Slaughter has voted against civil penalites for savings and loans officers.
Mr. Smith issued a press release the day before he hand-delivered the letter to Mr. Holcomb, a fact that Rep. Slaughter aimed at in the opening salvo of his written response. ^
“Since it arrived only after you had released it to the press, that certainly gave the impression it was more of a political statement than a sincere desire to discuss the issues,” Mr. Slaughter wrrote.
He went on to write that “joint apearances” won’t take place immediately, because “at the present time, however, I am spending much of my time vigorously opSee
DEBATE, p. 16
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