Politics & Government

Leslie Coolidge Invites Peter Roskam to Debate

Congressional candidate Leslie Coolidge writes Congressman Peter Roskam, suggesting a series of town hall-style debates.

Congressional candidate (D-6th District) invited incumbent Representative Peter Roskam (R-6th District) to meet her in a series of town hall-style debates.

She said in a statement, “Voters deserve to hear our distinctly different views on how to solve the problems that affect our community and our nation."

She said topics should include the candidates' approaches to improving the jobs outlook and the economy, tax reform, preserving Social Security and Medicare, energy policy, health care, foreign policy and the environment.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Coolidge suggested a series of four debates over the next two months in various parts of the 6th District during times that Congress will not be in session before the November election. Those recesses add up to approximately seven weeks time during which debates could be scheduled. Locations suggested include Palatine, Elgin, Wheaton and Hinsdale.

Coolidge is a CPA and former partner with international accounting firm KPMG.  She is vice chair of the Board of Directors of the International Crane Foundation and a trustee of the Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.  Representative Peter Roskam is completing his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives and is in Republican leadership in that body.

“I look forward to Mr. Roskam’s positive response to this debate invitation,” said Coolidge.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Information courtesy of a press release from Coolidge for Congress

Letter: Leslie Coolidge to Congressman Peter Roskam 

August 14, 2012

The Honorable Peter Roskam
Roskam for Congress
333 S. Cross St.
Wheaton, IL 60187
 
Via Certified Mail
 
Dear Representative Roskam,

RE: Invitation to Debate
 
I am writing to request that you join me in four town hall-style debates in the 6th Congressional District so that voters can learn where we both stand on the challenges facing the people of our district.  I hope that we can get in front of as many voters as possible and discuss the issues together.
 
I am happy to debate at any time and in any place.  However, in order to make our debates accessible to the greatest number of 6th Congressional District voters, I suggest we debate in or around Palatine, Elgin, Wheaton and Hinsdale.  I respect the demands of your schedule and understand that we should debate when Congress is not in session – the remainder of August, the first week of September, the last week of September, the last three weeks of October or any weekend prior to Election Day.  I believe the Congressional calendar provides us with ample time to conduct four debates.
 
I hope you agree that voters will benefit by hearing our different views on how to solve the problems that affect our community and our nation.  The topics we should discuss include jobs and the economy, tax reform, Social Security and Medicare, energy policy, health care, foreign policy and the environment.  I believe the two of us -- and the voters -- would find such a debate very informative.  I am looking forward to a spirited exchange of views.  We could ask the League of Women Voters or another non-partisan group to moderate.
 
I ask that you please respond within two weeks of the date of this letter so that we have sufficient time to plan the debates.   I can always be reached at my personal email: leslieacoolidge@gmail.com.  I am very flexible about scheduling our appearances and will appear at any time or place you suggest.  Thank you for your service to our community.
 
Best regards,
 
Leslie Coolidge
Candidate for Congress, 6th District


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here