Zeldin Proposes Debate Plan, Schedule

Demands Opponent End Summer Vacation, Address Issues

MASTIC, NY (07/07/2008)(readMedia)-- The Republican candidate for New York's First Congressional District today issued yet another debate challenge to his opponent, this time hoping that his proposal of a creative, district-wide series of issue-driven debates will be enough to drag his opponent away from his summer vacation and actually address the issues.

"My opponent's had a nice, long summer break from accountability on issues since accepting his party's nomination the week before Memorial Day," said Army veteran Lee Zeldin, the GOP's nominee for the Eastern Long Island district. "People are upset with the ‘New Direction' Congress, which badly needs a map and a compass. Gas prices are out of control and we're at war-the issues can't afford to remain on the back burner any longer."

Zeldin's debate plan encompasses a district-wide approach, different from the Hamptons-centric, "elitist" approach employed over the past six years.

Zeldin's plan calls for:

  • A series of travelling debates, held in each of the seven towns of the First Congressional District
  • The initial debate would occur the week Congress takes off in August
  • Five weekly, subject-specific debates held on local radio stations in the five weeks leading up to the election

"The voters want to address the host of challenges we face in Eastern Suffolk in 2008," said Zeldin. "My opponent would have jumped at this opportunity in 2002, and it's a shame that his tenure in Washington has turned an optimistic new politician into a fearful, uncooperative, typical, run-of-the-mill fat cat. We deserve better from our representative."

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Zeldin served as an aide to State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. The Shirley resident studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was a JAG attorney deployed to Iraq. He is currently an attorney at Raiser & Kenniff on Long Island.

For more information on Lee's campaign please visit us at www.zeldin08.com

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