Carbondale, IL – The Ray Lenzi for Congress campaign is blasting his primary election opponent for refusing to participate in two face-to-face meetings in Southern Illinois.
“Mr. Funk seems unwilling to leave the Metro-East area and engage voters in Southern Illinois, observed Lenzi. “He has participated in four debates with me in the Metro-East and says he plans to attend another, but despite the work of several local groups and many personal invitations, Mr. Funk can’t be bothered to discuss the issues in front of a Southern Illinois audience.”
Some background:

1) Starting in December, The Ray Lenzi for Congress campaign worked to secure dates and sponsors for face-to-face debates and/or forums that would take place in the 12th district. The list contained seven face-to-face debates, five in the Metro-East area, two in Southern Illinois.

2) The Funk campaign was contacted in January, and the Lenzi campaign offered to meet with Funk campaign staffers at a place and time convenient to them to work out details, any changes in dates and/or times, locations, etc. The Funk campaign refused to meet, instead asking for the schedule to be sent to them. It was sent.

3) During the intervening time, a debate at SIUE was added to the schedule.

4) The Funk campaign did choose to participate in debates in Edwardsville, Centreville, Fairview Heights and East St. Louis and plans to participate in another set for March 8th in East St. Louis.

5) However, the Funk campaign refused participation in debates slated for Southern Illinois on Feb. 25th – one in Anna and the other in Carbondale. Several invitations were extended, by both the Lenzi campaign and event sponsors. Excuses range from unhappiness with the format to scheduling conflicts and “calendar items that were set in advance.” It is important to note that the format for all of the debates has been the same….and that there is nothing listed for Feb. 25th on the Funk campaign’s Facebook page calendar. The event in Anna was sponsored by Shawnee Indivisible and the event at SIUC was hosted by the College Democrats. Both groups have expressed frustration that the Funk campaign has chosen not to participate. The Lenzi Campaign has worked closely with both groups with the aim of making each event successful.

“We already have Congressman Mike Bost who won’t meet with the people; he refuses to have town hall meetings” said Lenzi. “We call him ‘No-Show Mike. We don’t need ‘No-Show Joel.’
“Mr. Funk’s refusal to participate in “Democracy in Action” casts a doubtful shadow on his candidacy.”