Audra Strickland's campaign announced Friday afternoon that she's agreed to Supervisor Linda Parks' challenge to debate her and will comply with Parks' conditions that it be free, open to the public, and televised.
Parks criticized Strickland for bowing out of a League of Women Voters candidates forum this week. Strickland responded that she had a scheduling conflict as she was also slated to be at a meet-and-greet at the house of Rick Lemmo, a senior VP of Caruso Affiliated.
Her challenge to Strickland did not specify a place or time, other than it take place before the election. I guess in that respect it's sort of like a duel, where one party issues the challenge and the other party picks the weapon of choice.
In April, a debate sponsored by the Ventura County Young Republicans was aborted because the group failed to meet Parks' no-charge condition.
In accepting Parks' challenge, Strickland chose to hold the debate on Friday, May 28th at 6:30 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks City Hall. It will be moderated by Lemmo, who is also the president of the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Association, a group of commercial property owners that includes The Lakes.
An unfriendly business climate in the Conejo Valley is the theme of Strickland's, who kicked off her campaign at a vacant storefront on T.O. Boulevard.
"We do not need to look too far to be reminded of the down economy that exists today," Strickland wrote in a statement to the League of Women Voters, in lieu of her appearance at the forum. "You can drive through any major street in the 2nd District and find many vacant stores and buildings."
I'd expect Parks to agree to the time and location of the debate--it would expose her to criticism if she issued a challenge and then backed down from it. And by giving Strickland the opportunity to set the details, she's put herself at bit of a disadvantage as the backdrop reinforces her opponent's "economy" theme as opposed to her own "open spaces" strength.
Assuming the debate takes place, both sides will try to pack the location with their supporters. Although Parks is a Republican, she's moderate enough to draw Democrats who are eager to stick it to the conservative Strickland, hence her condition that the debate be free and open.
It will be an interesting night.
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Eric Ingemunson's commentary has been featured on Hannity, CNN, NBC, Inside Edition, and KFI's The John and Ken Show.
Eric was born and raised in Ventura County and currently resides in Moorpark. He earned a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University. As a conservative, Eric supports smaller government, less taxation, more individual freedom, the rule of law, and a strict adherence to the Constitution.
