ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Two candidates who are seeking to represent a district covering parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township in the state House are calling on local organizations to host a TV debate.
Campaigns for Democratic candidate Ce-Ce Gerlach and Republican candidate Bob Smith Jr. are both looking to represent House District 22.
Democrat Ana Tiburcio currently represents the district.
She defeated Smith in a special election back in February. The House seat was left vacant when incumbent Josh Siegel resigned to take on his new role Lehigh County executive.
Tiburcio, Gerlach, and Smith Jr. are competing in the May 19 primary.
In a news release Friday, Smith Jr. and Gerlach say are urging civic organizations, media outlets, and community groups to step forward as potential debate hosts.
“The campaigns have expressed willingness to work collaboratively with any qualified sponsor to agree on a format, date, location, and ground rules that prioritize transparency and voter access,” Smith Jr. and Gerlach said.
“Open discourse over ideas and solutions are a bedrock to our democracy, and pivotal to an educated and engaged voter base,” Smith Jr. and Gerlach wrote in a public letter addressed to “Whom It May Concern.”
Multiple invitations to join in signing the letter were extended directly to Rep. Ana Tiburcio and also to her campaign staff, but no one responded, according to Smith Jr. and Gerlach.