A few steps out to the bunker in LD-26

by David Safier

Yesterday I wrote a post, Republicans hiding in the Bunker with Brewer. All over the state — in fact, all over the country — Republicans are dodging face-to-face events with their Democratic competition.

In the post, I wrote:

Vic Williams and Terri Proud don't want to be in the same room with Nancy Young Wright. An event in Flowing Wells has already been cancelled because the Rs refused to show, and they're all backing out of an education forum at Foothills High as well (Melvin sent his refusal. Williams and Proud have simply not responded to a registered letter.)

It seems that has changed. Yesterday and today, Williams and Proud have said they will participate in the Foothills High forum on education. Melvin is still hiding out.

It's a good, albeit timid, first step from Williams and Proud. Their next step should be for the two Rs to contact the people who organized the Flowing Wells event and express their willingness to take part in the forum that was cancelled because of their refusal to participate.

NOTE TO PEOPLE SETTING UP EVENTS: A candidate or candidates shouldn't dictate whether you hold an event. Republicans are trying their damndest to limit the campaigns to hit-and-run sound bites and 30 second ads. The only way to smoke them out of their bunkers — or to let the public know they're afraid to meet with Democrats on a level playing field — is to hold the events anyway.

Remember when the Star gave all the primary candidates the opportunity to answer some questions on the op ed page and only the Dems returned the questionnaires? To the paper's credit, it ran the Dems' answers and commented on the Republicans' refusal to participate. That's how it should be done.