Newman Bows Out Of Debate: League

LA GRANGE, IL — Democratic congressional candidate Marie Newman is pulling out of the League of Women Voters debate set for Feb. 20 now that U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinksi has decided against taking part, the league said in a statement over the weekend.

On Friday, Newman, a La Grange resident, informed the league she would not participate, thus not honoring the ground rules she signed Jan. 10, the league said.

"Her decision to cancel is a disservice to constituents of the 3rd Congressional District," Michelle Lieb, who handles voter services for the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area, said in an email to Patch.

Newman is running to the left of Lipinski, a Western Springs Democrat, in the March 17 Democratic primary. In 2018, Lipinski, who routinely wins in landslides, narrowly defeated Newman. He was elected in 2004 to the 3rd District seat, succeeding his father, Bill Lipinski.

The league said its debates are viewed on video by thousands of 3rd District voters. Two other candidates, Rush Darwish and Charles Hughes, are still planning to participate in the Feb. 20 debate, according to the league.

Ben Hardin, a spokesman for Newman, said the campaign does not dispute the league's statement, but looks at it in a different way.

"We think it is important for voters to hear us debate with Congressman Lipinski," Hardin said in an interview. "We are waiting to see if we can have a debate with Congressman Lipinski. Ideally, we can, through some effort on our end, persuade him to join us there at the debate. We consider him to be our opposition. We believe his record across the spectrum is at odds with the district's views."

Darwish issued a statement through his campaign on Newman's withdrawal from the debate.

"I share Ms. Newman's frustration with the fact that Rep. Lipinski feels he does not have to show up and be held accountable by his constituents in the La Grange and Brookfield areas," said Darwish, a businessman. "However, as the League of Women Voters is hosting a nonpartisan candidate forum in order to better educate area members and other residents about all of the candidates, I will absolutely be participating in this forum. I find it interesting that Ms. Newman criticizes Rep. Lipinski for not showing up to a nonpartisan forum in La Grange, when she herself refuses to attend another nonpartisan event focusing on veterans' issues at the Orland Park VFW this Friday. "

Last week, the League of Women Voters told Patch that Lipinski's campaign had "ignored" the league's repeated inquiries about whether he would take part in the candidate forum. Patch then reached out to a campaign spokeswoman, who said scheduling issues prevented Lipinski from attending.

The spokeswoman, Sally Daly, said the candidates in the 3rd District's March 17 Democratic primary have already participated in forums at the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times and planned to debate on PBS affiliate WTTW in Chicago. But so far, none of the events have been in the district. Daly did say a candidate debate is being planned on WJOL radio station in Joliet, which is in the 3rd District. A final date has not been set.

Daly told Patch on Friday that Lipinski is scheduled to meet with a group of first responders on the night of the league debate. None of the candidate debates have been held in a public setting where constituents can submit questions.

In a news release Friday, Newman chastised Lipinksi for not taking part in the league debate. She said she would be willing to work around his calendar to reschedule.

Lipinski, who declined to endorse Barack Obama in his 2012 re-election, voted against the Affordable Care Act — better known as Obamacare — two years earlier. Newman, who bills herself as a progressive, questions Lipinski's positions on Obamacare, immigration and women's rights.

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. The GOP candidates are Catherine O'Shea, Mike Fricilone and admitted Nazi Arthur Jones.