July 5, 2006

Secretary William F. Galvin
Committee to Elect Bill Galvin
444 Washington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02135

Dear Secretary Galvin:

With ten weeks to go to the September 19 Democratic primary election, it is time for us to debate the issues in this campaign. With this letter, I challenge you to a series of seven debates throughout the Commonwealth.

You are the only Democratic candidate in a contested statewide race this year who has, thus far, refused to engage in any debate – despite repeated invitations to do so and despite my willingness to accept every invitation. Some of these invitations were issued prior to the Massachusetts Democratic Party convention, including a request by WGBH’s Greater Boston and a request by the Newton Democratic City Committee. Others have been issued since the convention, including an invitation from NECN’s NewsNight with Jim Braude and an invitation from Mass Citizens for Voting Integrity. In contrast, the Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor have already held numerous debates both prior to and since the convention.

Your repeated refusal to debate is an affront to the voters of Massachusetts, especially given your position as the state’s chief elections officer. Elections are contests of ideas and candidate debates are critical to informing voters and to encouraging political participation. Candidate debates are also critical for holding elected officials accountable when such officials seek re-election. Whatever previous claim you made prior to the convention as to why you would not appear at any debate no longer holds any water. More than 1300 delegates at the state party convention – nearly 30% of the delegates – voted to place me on the September primary ballot. The voters of our Commonwealth now deserve an open and honest debate on the state of our democracy and the state of our right to vote.

I look forward to your immediate response so that we may reach agreement on the scheduling of these debates.

Sincerely,
John Bonifaz