Slattery Drops Out of Tonight's Debate in Emmaus
Democrat Slattery decides to skip debate organized by CEPTA
State House Democratic candidate Patrick Slattery won't participate in a political debate scheduled for 7:30 tonight in Emmaus as a result of a lawsuit filed in Lehigh County Court on Monday.
Slattery called for the event to be canceled.
Two Emmaus political activists - Otto Slozer and John Donches - yesterday filed suit against Slattery and others alleging defamation of character. The men are members of Concerned East Penn Taxpayers Association (CEPTA), which is hosting the debate.
Slattery is in a heated race with GOP candidate Ryan Mackenzie for the 134th District house seat Special Election on April 24. The winner will fill out the remaining eight months of the term of Rep. Doug Reichley, who resigned to become a county judge.
The primary election is a week away. What do you think of the 134th House race? Tell us in the comments section below.
Slattery issued a statement this afternoon saying that Larry Otter, the Doylestown-based attorney representing Slozer and Donches, "has done extensive work for the House Republican Campaign Committee to remove Democrats from ballots across the commonwealth." Otter's website says he has defended Republican, Democrat and Green Party candidates.
Slattery called the lawsuit a "baseless, desperate, and political stunt."
Slattery said he is still willing to debate Mackenzie "any place and any time he sees fit as long as an open and fair exchange can be guaranteed."
Emmaus Patch has placed a call to John Donches for comment and we'll post his reply as soon as we have it.
Check back for a complete story on the Slozer-Donches defamation of character lawsuit.
This story has been corrected. The original version of this story stated that the debate was hosted by Otto Slozer and John Donches. The host of the debate was the Concerned East Penn Taxpayers Association, known as CEPTA. Donches is president of CEPTA. Slozer is a member of the group.
Ron Beitler
3:09 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Nothing wrong with country bumpkins!! But they perhaps give bumpkins a bad name..
pam
3:44 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Donchez and Slozer have nothing better to do thanmake peoples lives miserable...they need to get a life and stop this nonsense!
truth seeker
3:49 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
1 month before the debate: Hi Mr. Slattery can you come to our debate?
1 day before the debate: Hi Mr. Slattery We are filing a law suit against you for something that happened in November. By the way it has nothing to do with the election on the 24th and our debate is totally objective.
What a joke!
Tim Killimaji
5:03 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
unless it is sanctioned, sponsored and moderated 100 percent by the league of women voters than any "debate" where organizes sue a candidate is suspect
Eric
3:59 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The blatent political stunt pulled by these two exemplifies the disgraceful culture of the right. It's obvious this was a calculated move to get back at Slattery and Citizens for Strong Communities for their successful work in the previous election. I'm glad Slattery removed himself from this "debate" and did not dignify the impartial nonsense of these CEPTA members.
Robert Sentner
4:12 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Makes deciding who to vote for much easier now. was on the fence but Slattery gets my vote now, all I ask is don't lower yourself to the oppositions standards. disgusting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If there is anything I can do to help Mr. Slattery's campaign you know where I am at, don't hesitate to ask ??
Ron Beitler
4:21 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The event is being hosted by CEPTA, Donches is the President. Mackenzie recently used this same logic in declining to respond to a questionnaire about growth and farmland preservation issued by "Friends for Protection of LMT" a group of which I am currently the chair.
Ryan's logic was that I wrote on my a blog that I'm gonna vote for Pat. Which I am. My reasons are, b/c Mackenzie is not a 'local person' and represents the kind of 'washington insider' that is the problem not the solution. Very disappointed in the (R) committees nomination over more qualified local candidates. I'll be voting for Arlene Dabrow in the Primary and Pat in the Special. The 134th is not a tool for an insider to fast track to greener pastures.
Regardless, despite 'Friends' laying out a clear protocol for getting responses out to the public unedited and without comment or endorsement (perfectly down the line fair) and the fact that no decision in friends is made unilaterally by the chair, but rather the steering committee of 8 members some of which support Mackenzie ironically... he declined, despite our only intention being to shine a spotlight on extremely important growth and farmland preservation issues.
This is the exact same situation. A precedent set by Mackenzie. Same exact logic. I have no insight into how CEPTA works, and if it values integrity as friends does but the President of CEPTA is now suing Pat as of yesterday. One week before the election and the day before the debate.
Ron Beitler
4:35 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
FYI for those interested, you can view Slattery's responses to the 'Friends' questionnaire at our Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/friendslmt
You do not need to be a member of FB to view the page.
Tim Killimaji
5:05 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
why did the league of women voters not host the event? they are always 100 percent unbiased
Missy Moyer-Schneck
1:34 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Lifelong republican here, 90% of the time I vote republican, there have been times since moving to lower mac that I have not, and this will now be one of those times. Pat is local, he is present and involved and he is getting our vote. What those two did the day before this debate is sad, they need to find a rock and crawl under it
Stan Zukowski
4:34 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A lawsuit? John, John ~ what's going on with you? From activist to crackpot? Not a good evolution.
srodham69
4:56 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Frankly, Slattery's opponent must be furious. Having these two file a lawsuit against you is probably the best endorsement you can get.
Tim Killimaji
5:04 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
politics as usual, throw em all out as the system is broken
John Belin
5:40 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
IM VOTING FOR MACKENSIE!
Tim Killimaji
6:32 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
sadly he is not running, better chance at voting for MACKENZIE
Susan
5:41 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Disgraceful behavior by Slozer and Donches. Smart move by Slattery to cancel. MacKenzie is keeping bad company and is stained by his association with them.
Susan Koomar
5:43 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Folks. just want to let you know that Emmaus Patch will contact the League of Women Voters to ask them about co-sponsoring a non-partisan candidates forum prior to the general election. Sorry we were not able to do so this spring.
patty
8:29 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
not a very accurate "headline" and surely Mr. Slattery is above this bs. i will vote on april 24. will you ( a collective you)?
Tim Killimaji
8:30 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
I refuse to vote as they are all corrupt
Sue
8:08 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Nope. I'll no longer vote.
CCG
10:16 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Mr. Pat Slattery - thanks for showing that you are a great choice by caring for and living in our community and for being a hard working decent guy! You have my vote!
David Stern
10:53 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Just catching up on this. My father was Borough Secretary-Coordinator for many years. Sure, there were disagreements in Borough Council, but the focus was on Emmaus, not on the greater cultural warfare going on in the country. The role of Borough government is to balance taxes, growth, quality of life, transportation, safety and security. I see, instead, it has become a microcosm for all those things tearing apart the rest of the country. The Colonel is rolling over in his grave.
Ron Beitler
11:09 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
David, I agree 100%. Too often today these sort of national "talking points" way of looking at things has diluted our discourse locally. Your exactly right about the microcosm of this cultural warfare. The extremes of the left and right have commanded messaging for far too long. BOTH parties are guilty of allowing this to happen on a national level and it permeates down to the local level where it is much more dangerous since the extremes can run amok without moderate voices to reign them in.