In 4th District election clash, Forbes nixes debate

U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes is making clear that there will be no debates with his Democratic opponent in this year's election.

The Chesapeake Republican, who is seeking his fifth full term in Congress, did not agree to a request by the League of Women Voters and has ignored repeated inquiries by his challenger, Dr. Wynne LeGrow of Emporia, to debate him any time in the weeks leading up to Nov. 2.

The contest for the 4th District will be the only congressional race in South Hampton Roads with no debate. The district includes Chesapeake, Suffolk and other cities and counties stretching west and north to Powhatan County west of Richmond.

"His calendar is booked for the month of October," said Forbes' spokeswoman, Jessica Mancari. "It has been booked for months."

Mancari said a debate would serve no purpose.

"LeGrow said he's against everything that Congressman Forbes stands for. If that's the case, what's the point of the debate?" she said. "People don't want a debate just for debate's sake."

In addition to planned campaign events, she said, Forbes has been actively working on issues such as fighting the proposed shutdown of the Norfolk-based U.S. Joint Forces Command.

"He's got to make decisions on his calendar based on what his priorities are," she said.

Antonio Elias, LeGrow's campaign manager, said he doesn't believe Forbes has provided enough specific answers to voters on some issues, such as how to make up federal deficits.

"If they're so confident with their own answers to questions, it's amazing that they're not willing to share a stage."

Forbes, 58, who is an attorney and former state legislator, has been in Congress since winning a special election in 2001 after incumbent U.S. Rep. Norm Sisisky, a Democrat, died.

In the recent two-year term, Forbes was a strong opponent of the Wall Street bailout legislation, the economic stimulus bill and the new health care law.

LeGrow, 65, who retired in 2009 after 29 years as a physician, is making his first bid for elected office. He favors the new health care law and supported the stimulus legislation.

Carole Garrison of the Virginia Peninsula League of Women Voters said Wednesday that the group had given up late in September trying to organize a Forbes-LeGrow debate because they couldn't get a firm promise from the incumbent.

Elias said they have told Forbes' staff that LeGrow was open to having a debate "every single day of the month of October except Fridays.... We're willing to do it anywhere in the district."

Candidates in the other two congressional districts in the region have debates scheduled.

The most active has been the 2nd District contest between U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Democrat; Scott Rigell, a Republican; and Kenny Golden, an independent, in which the candidates will have debated several times before Election Day.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com