Hay criticizes Kirkpatrick for missing forum

Congressional candidate Sydney Hay: Campaign PhotoSydney Hay, Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat, is attacking Democratic opponent Ann Kirkpatrick for what she characterizes as ducking out on a forum in Show Low on Monday.

“I want all of the voters in the district to have the opportunity to know where both my opponent and I stand on the issues," said Hay. “I hope Ann will reconsider our invitation to come to Show Low and join me in this town hall meeting.”

The Hay campaign said it invited Kirkpatrick to the forum, yet Zac Petkanas, communications director for the Kirkpatrick campaign, said he'd seen no such invite.

"The first time I've heard anything about this is from you," Petkanas told PolitickerAZ.com. He said Kirkpatrick and Hay have already appeared at four forums together, including one in Show Low on Sept. 26.

Roy Tyler, Hay's campaign spokesman, said he sent an email to Kirkpatrick's campaign manager about the forum, as well as to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee - which is by law prohibited from coordinating with any candidate's campaign.

The Hay campaign had initially suggested having one forum in each of the eight counties included in the 1st district, but Kirkpatrick's team opted for events that were already sponsored by voting groups.

Tyler's response was, "Why would we want to bring in politically-motivated groups?"

According to Tyler, there are two forums in Williams and Safford that Hay plans on attending, but he said he didn't know whether Kirkpatrick had agreed to join her there or not.

However, Petkanas said the two will be appearing on KAET's "Horizon" program together, and that there may be other opportunities in the future for a debate between the candidates.