Ostgaard declines debate challenge

Beth Ostgaard, Democratic candidate for the N.C. House of Representatives, has decided not to debate fellow Democrat Aaron Bradley Scott.
Last week, Scott issued a challenge to Ostgaard for a series of debates in both McDowell and Burke. In a Thursday news release, Scott, who lives in Connelly Springs, stated the debates should be held in a public setting so that voters of the 85th District can understand the issues and the candidates.
Scott, 20, is a junior at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
But on Monday, Ostgaard's campaign released a prepared statement saying that she would not debate Scott.
"Beth is spending all of her time meeting with constituents one-on-one and in small groups to listen to their concerns and inform them of her passion for representing the people of Burke and McDowell County," said Chris Church, president of 5 Star Campaigns. "She will not be participating in a 'series of two' debates."
Church's 5 Star Campaigns is the Raleigh firm that is working on behalf of Ostgaard.
Church said he would be happy to write a column for local media explaining how he and Ostgaard came to this decision. He added "a debate with someone with such little experience would only muddy the waters for primary voters and those who will decide to support our campaign throughout the general election."
"This campaign is focused on educating voters and listening to their concerns; not debating someone who doesn't even have the knowledge of what district he lives in and who doesn't check his press releases for spelling errors," Church said.
In a prepared response, Scott said Tuesday his Democratic opponent has decided the issues are not important.
"Rather than focusing on the issues that really impact McDowell and Burke counties, my opponent appears more concerned about raising money and making a name for herself," he said. "This is a slap in the face to every hard working Democrat who calls the 85th District home."
Scott's campaign issued a statement accusing Ostgaard of being "more focused on raising funds and making a name for herself – than focusing on the true responsibilities of the job as a member of the N.C. House of Representatives.
"She appears to have already declared herself the winner of the primary even before the people have had a chance to cast a ballot," read the statement.
Scott's campaign points out that the McDowell County Democratic Party's Web site lists Ostgaard as the only Democratic candidate running for this seat.
"Mr. Scott and his opponent filed for office on the same day," said Brandon Greeson, communications director for Scott's campaign. "Particularly, McDowell Democrats promoting Ms. Ostgaard's candidacy speaks truth to the power she thinks she has in the district. The truth is, if Ms. Ostgaard cannot debate a member of her own party on issues affecting her district, she cannot be an effective leader in Raleigh where debate is essential to getting work done. Having managed two failed campaigns in the past, one would think Ms. Ostgaard would not repeat the same mistakes in her own."
Scott's campaign challenged Ostgaard to reconsider her position. "Women who have lost their jobs and families who are trying to figure out how to put food on the table, could care less about Ms. Ostgaard's coffee and cheesecake socials," read the statement from the Scott campaign. "They want someone who is more concerned about offering solutions to make this district competitive and to get people back to work, than toting a membership to the National Rifle Association to score political points."
The winner of the Democratic primary will go on to face Republican incumbent Mitch Gillespie of Marion, who is seeking re-election to the N.C. House's 85th District seat.
"Democrats don't need to send our version of Mitch Gillespie to the N.C. House," said Scott in a prepared statement. "Our district demands better and demands a change in the way things are done. It's about time someone represent the people of this district, rather than the special interest. I am someone who can deliver that change."