Congressman Roskam: debate Leslie Coolidge or resign

Congressman Peter Roskam
Washington DC

Dear Congressman Roskam:


On August 14, your IL 6th District House challenger Leslie Coolidge requested you engage her in a series of town hall style debates to discuss the vital issues facing the 700,000 6th District residents. She also requested you respond within two weeks, a very generous window within which to reply.

Here we are three weeks later and one week past the two week window with no substantive response to date. I have placed calls to your campaign office, your local Bloomingdale, IL office and your Washington DC office, all of which personally confirm the Coolidge campaign's frustration in scheduling debates. One of your staffers actually blamed the delay on your attendance at the Republican Convention. Since the convention didn't even start till the expiration date of the requested response, I find that answer disingenuous and insulting.

With just 62 campaign days left before election day, your 700,000 constituents deserve better; much, much better from you as their public servant. If you can't show them and Leslie Coolidge and the democratic process the respect and decency to discuss the issues face to face in a series of debates well before the election, maybe you should consider resigning from office. The office of Congressman needs to be occupied someone not afraid to let the people judge, based on visual and verbal comparison between candidates, who should represent them.

The question should not be whether to debate or not to debate. The question should be whether to debate or to resign.

Time is running out Congressman. It's time for you to decide.

Walt Zlotow
IL 6th District resident