By Susan Redden
Globe Staff Writer
JOPLIN, Mo. —
Scott Eckersley is proposing a showdown at high noon in candidate debates to precede the Nov. 3 general election.
Eckersley, Democrat candidate for the Congress from Missouri’s Seventh District, said Friday that his proposal for a series of debates has been accepted by Billy Long, winner of the Republican nomination.
“I am pleased that Billy has decided to accept my invitation to debate at the county courthouses,” Eckersley said Friday. “These debates will give the voters of each county a great opportunity to learn more about the people vying to represent them.”
A letter proposing a format for the debates was delivered to Long’s headquarters in Springfield on Friday, according to Danny Giddings, deputy campaign manager for Eckersley.
“We’re proposing a one-hour debate on the steps of each county courthouse, at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting in late August or early September,” he said.
The Long campaign has agreed to the debates, said Royce Reding, campaign manager.
“We did agree to debate, but we’ve not had an opportunity to sit down and discuss the details with the Eckersley campaign,’’ Reding said.
In addition to Eckersley and Long, the general election ballot will include Libertarian candidate Kevin Craig, of Powersite, and may include Dean R. Moore, of Highlandville. Moore has submitted petitions to the state seeking to run as an independent candidate. The potential involvement of the other two candidates in the debate “will be discussed,” Giddings said.
Long, a Springfield auctioneer, real estate salesman and former radio talk show host, won the Republican primary with 38,126 votes, followed by Sen. Jack Goodman, Mount Vernon, with 30,335; Sen. Gary Nodler, Joplin, 14,548; Darrell Moore, Springfield, 9,283; Jeff Wisdom, Springfield, 4,548; Mike Moon, Ash Grove, 4,468; Steve Hunter, Joplin, 2,166, and Mike Wardell, Nixa, 843.
Eckersley received 9,199 votes and Tim Davis, Branson, 5,479.
Eckersley earlier listed his home in Kimberling City, but now lives in Springfield. An attorney, he at one time worked for former GOP Gov. Matt Blunt. He joined Blunt’s staff in 2007, and was promoted to deputy general counsel.
Several months later, he was fired after he said he challenged the office’s handling of e-mails. He later was exonerated of any wrongdoing. He sued, and started his campaign fund with part of the $500,000 settlement he received from the state.
Nine counties
The district includes Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Lawrence, Barry, Greene and Stone counties, and parts of Polk and Taney counties.
