Manchester Mayor: I See No Reason For Candidates' Debate With Challenger

Mayoral candidate Ken Palmer says he is willing to meet with Mayor Michael Fressola any place, at any time, for a forum on the future of Manchester.

Fressola says he has no interest in doing so.

“Why would I agree to give him an opportunity to question me on 24 years of dedicated service to this town?” Fressola said Friday by phone, in response to a letter Palmer sent to him and shared with the Manchester Patch.

Palmer, an attorney who is running against Fressola for the mayor’s seat in the November election, wrote the letter in response to Fressola’s announcement early last week that he was withdrawing from the Manchester PTA’s “Meet The Candidates” night, which is scheduled for Tuesday at Manchester High School. Fressola said he was withdrawing from that event because the questions submitted ahead of time “for the most part, are accusatory, and are prejudicial, slanted and are not factual.”

Manchester PTA President Sarita Dodd said the same questions were to be posed to both candidates.

In his letter, dated Oct. 1, Palmer said he was disappointed that Fressola will not be participating.

“This event was a clear opportunity for the town residents to compare and contrast our differing viewpoints,” Palmer wrote. “If you feel the PTA format is slanted, accusatory and not factual, I ask that you arrange a format that suits your comfort level. Just give me the time and place and I will be there ready to discuss the future of Manchester Township for all of our residents.”

Fressola said he feels his record of public service in Manchester speaks for itself and that he didn’t see any reason to debate Palmer in any setting about topics where Palmer has criticisms, including bringing more business to the town and the budget.

“He knows nothing about our zoning laws, which prevent much from being done, and his promise to cut the budget is simply a wild promise,” Fressola said.

Fressola said Palmer’s actions belie a lack of interest in the town.

“He doesn’t attend council meetings regularly,” Fressola said. “If he really cared about this town he would have volunteered to sit on one of my boards.”

“During this campaign, I have told people I am not a ‘career politician,’ “ Palmer said. “The only promise I am making is that I will always be accountable and accessible. I will never refuse to meet our constituency.”