Sixth District Debate Cancelled, Frank Pallone Declines League of Women Voters

HIGHLANDS, NJ, October 24th - Incumbent Frank Pallone declined a request to participate in a debate with Congressional Candidate Anna Little. The debate, coordinated and sponsored by the League of Women Voters and scheduled for October 28, was canceled due to a lack of incumbent participation.

"The voters in the sixth district should not be ignored," said Little. "I am disappointed in Congressman Pallone's decision to avoid a debate. Because of redistricting, the new district was not previously represented by Congressman Pallone and voters in the newly drawn sixth district deserve the chance to see the candidates who are asking to represent them in Congress side-by-side discussing their perspectives on the critical problems we face in New Jersey and the nation.”

Many New Jersey Congressional Candidates have participated in debates during the 2012 election; Congressional Candidate John Arvanites debated long-time incumbent Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen last week; Congressman Bill Pascrell and Rabbi Schmuley Boteach just participated in the second of three scheduled debates and Congressman Jon Runyan and Candidate Shelley Adler will meet in a debate on Nov. 1.

“Why is Incumbent Frank Pallone afraid to face voters in a debate?” asked Little’s Campaign Council, Torin Kelly. “Maybe as a 24 year incumbent Pallone feels as though he doesn't need to participate in the campaign process, but voters in the sixth district deserve the same level of transparency from Congressman Pallone that other Incumbents and Candidates are providing New Jersey voters in Congressional districts across the state.”

When requested to participate in the debate, Little enthusiastically and immediately responded that she would attend. Several of the independent candidates had responded, but Frank Pallone declined the invitation to debate and his failure to participate caused the only debate scheduled for New Jersey's sixth district Congressional race to be canceled.

"I welcome the opportunity to debate the issues with the other candidates at any time and any place,” Little continued. “New Jersey’s unemployment rate has climbed to 9.9 percent, the highest since 1977 and almost 10 percent of homeowners are 90 days or more behind on their mortgage payments, the second-worst delinquency rate in the nation - voters can't afford to be kept in the dark on economic issues any longer. Congressman Pallone has been a tourist in his own district long enough and it is time to face the voters and have an open and honest dialog about the main issues. I stand ready to debate Congressman Pallone and I urge him to join the rest of us and reschedule this important discussion.”

For more information about Anna Little for Congress, please visit

www.annalittleforcongress.com.