Front Page Coverage in the Express Times!!

Sometimes I guess it isn’t such a bad thing to be left out of a debate or two if the result is front page news coverage   In today’s Sunday edition of the Express-Times newspaper with the headline “Some Debates Exclude Jake Towne,” reporter Lynn Olanoff covers my being left out of a debate sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and also the 5% poll minimum the Morning Call decided to set.  The campaign was contacted for the first time by the Jewish Federation on a matter unrelated to the debate on Friday, so I hope to possibly attend or at the very least be of service to the group by answering any of their questions.

Below is a segment of the Express-Times article, the remainder can be read here, the updated debate schedule, an interview done with Comcast, and upcoming events.  Supporters are more than welcome to march in the Pen Argyl Labor Day Parade tomorrow!!

Independent congressional candidate Jake Towne isn’t being excluded from all debates as his Republican opponent originally wanted, but he is being kept out of one and possibly two candidates’ forums.

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley used a 15 percent polling threshold to decide whom to invite to its political forum on Oct. 10, and based on an April poll, which had Towne at 4 percent, he did not make the cut, said Ben Davis, the foundation’s director of outreach and community relations.

Davis said the organization has previously used the threshold and it has nothing to do with Towne’s connection to the band Poker Face, whose lead singer has made several anti-Semitic statements.

The federation’s debate lineup was decided July 22, Davis said, before it was made public that Towne had invited Poker Face to play at a campaign event. Towne canceled Poker Face’s performance and distanced himself from the statements.

“The invitations had already been out by the time that whole story broke,” Davis said. “It was definitely not a factor.”

Incumbent Rep. Charlie Dent, Towne’s Republican opponent, had pointed to Towne’s connection with Poker Face as a reason he shouldn’t be invited to debates. Now that Towne has denounced the band, Dent doesn’t object to him taking part in the debates, Dent campaign manager Shawn Millan said last week.

Towne also may be excluded from The Morning Call debate Oct. 14, which is employing a 5 percent polling threshold for inclusion. Invitations will be based on a poll the newspaper plans to conduct later this month, State Editor Pete Leffler said.

The threshold is one the newspaper has used before, and with the debate being televised live on WLVT PBS 39, it must be kept to one hour, Leffler said.

“TV restricts how much time you have and things get fragmented pretty quickly,” he said. “Using the threshold seems to be the best way to keep things focused on what voters need to hear.”

Towne said he is disappointed he may not get to take part in two debates. He has been invited to eight other debates he plans to attend.

“Part of the reason for debates in the first place is not to decide for the public, but let candidates say where they are on the issues,” Towne said. “With everything happening with the economy, you need to have discourse on that.”    [The remainder of the article can be read here.]

• College Hill Neighborhood Association Candidates’ Forum, Monday, September 13, 7-9 PM at Lafayette College.  Oechsle Hall, Room 224 (#62 on this map, Parsons and Hamilton on College Hill in Easton).  Open Q&A.  Press Release HERE.
• Delta Kappa Gamma/League of Women Voters Candidate Forum, Friday, September 24th, 2010 at Cedar Crest College, 6-9 PM, Harmon Hall of Peace next to Lees Hall at Cedar Crest College.  Open Q&A from public.  6 PM doors open, 6:30 PM coffee/tea/desserts, 7 PM debate starts.
• Tea Party of the Lehigh Valley Candidates’ Night, Monday, October 11, Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, 7 PM.
  325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229-2811.  Directions.
• Morning Call Debate to be held Thursday, October 14th at Muhlenberg College, Time/Place to be announced.  (Invitation conditional to all candidates only if 5% or better is obtained in a September poll of 300 residents)
• Pen Argyl Area Concerned Citizens Debate, Wednesday, October 20, evening, exact time/place to be announced.
• NEW!! De Sales University Debate, Thursday, October 21, 7:30-9 PM in Center Valley, PA.  Located in the Commonwealth Room in the University Center (Building #48 in this map).  Open Q&A from the audience.
• Express Times Debate, Monday, October 25 at the State Theatre in Easton, 7 PM.  Open to public.
• TBA – Northampton Community College, Date/Time/Place to be announced
• TBA – WFMZ 69 Debate to be televised live, Date (October)/Time/Place to be announced

Pen Argyl’s Labor Day Parade, September 6

Time: Gather around 11 AM to help decorate the vehicle, parade begins at 1 PM.
Location: The float will be near the boro building at 11 N. Robinson Ave and Beil in Pen Argyl, call 610-392-8156 if you do not see it.   MAP

Volunteers needed to walk in the parade and pass out candy!!  Please email towneforcongress@gmail.com or call 610-392-8156 to RSVP.

Northampton Historic Street Fair, Saturday 9/11

Time: 10 AM – 6 PM
Location: Main Street south of the Roxy Theatre in Northampton  MAP

The campaign will have an outdoor booth during this community event!   (Rain date 9/12)

Monday, Sept 13 Candidate’s Night, College Hill Neighborhood Association

Time: Monday, September 13,  7-9 PM
Location: Lafayette College.  Oechsle Hall, Room 224 (#62 on this map, Parsons and Hamilton Streets on College Hill in Easton)

I will be appearing with the two Establishment candidates for the first time.  The public is invited to attend and ask questions!!  Press Release HERE.

Tuesday, Sept 14, Online Liberty Money Bomb

Time: All day!!

Please donate what you can afford to give to the campaign as we need to raise funds to pay for yard signs and advertisements!!