Lipinski 'Ignored' Debate Request

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski's re-election campaign has "ignored" the League of Women Voters' requests for him to take part in a candidates' forum, a league official said Tuesday. Reached by Patch, a campaign spokeswoman said the Western Springs Democrat would miss the event because of a busy schedule.

Melissa Lieb, who handles voter services for the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area, said she wanted to set up a time for the forum that would work for Lipinski, given that he is in Washington a lot of the time. At the beginning, she said, Lipinski's campaign manager asked for the event format. She said she immediately responded the format was the same as before, then she heard nothing.

"Rep. Lipinski's campaign stopped corresponding with the LWV after the invite was sent," Lieb said in an email. "They have not responded and have ignored the LWV after multiple attempts and thus Rep. Lipinski is considered unwilling to participate."

Two years ago, Lipinski faced off against his Democratic opponent, Marie Newman, a La Grange resident, at a League of Women Voters' forum in Palos Hills. Now, the league is planning a forum for Feb. 20 at Lyons Township High School's South Campus in Western Springs. The league has long billed itself as a nonpartisan group.

Newman, who nearly defeated Lipinski last time around, is running again and plans to participate in the forum. Two other candidates, Rush Darwish and Charles Hughes, are also expected to attend.

In an interview Tuesday, Sally Daly, a Lipinski spokeswoman, said the congressman would not appear at the league event.

"It's a scheduling matter," Daly said. "We have received requests for different forums. He has to get around the district in the most efficient way."

She said the congressman has already taken part in candidate forums with the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. And she said he is planning to participate in an event with opponents on PBS affiliate WTTW in Chicago.

None of those events, though, are in public settings in Lipinski's 3rd Congressional District. All of them are in Chicago.

Lipinski was elected to Congress in 2004, succeeding his father, who served for two decades. The son has always prevailed with big margins, until Newman ran against him from the left in the 2018 Democratic primary. Lipiniski edged past her with 51 percent of the vote.

The Democratic forum will be held 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the performing arts center at Lyons Township High School's South Campus, 4900 Willow Springs Road, in Western Springs.

The Republican forum will be held 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the same venue.

Under the league's format, the candidates will make brief presentations on their backgrounds, qualifications and interest in running for office. This will be followed by questions from the audience and any other questions submitted in advance to the league. The league will collect and submit all questions to its moderator. To submit a question in advance, send an email to LWV2020District3@gmail.com.

The forums are open to the public and free of charge. For more information, email the league at league@lagrangearealwv.org or visit its website.

The Democratic and Republican primaries are March 17.