Published: July 31, 2008 12:21 pm            

Sodrel calls for order

Hill: No dice to challenger’s proposal for ad committee, town hall meetings

Republican congressional candidate Mike Sodrel wants an independent committee to evaluate all political advertisements related to the campaign between himself and Democratic Party incumbent Baron Hill. He’s also proposing a series of 20 town hall style forums.

Hill responded to the proposals with a letter that didn’t address the specifics of either idea.

Sodrel’s proposal is an effort to raise the level of discourse during Indiana’s 9th District congressional race, a press release from the campaign said. Campaigns between the two in the last six years have featured a host of negative advertisements. Sodrel admits that 2006’s effort was “a pretty ugly campaign to behold.”

“Congressman Hill said he wanted to ‘elevate the level of discourse’ during this campaign, so my proposal to him will help accomplish that,” Sodrel said.

Sodrel sent the proposal to Hill in the form of a letter, dated July 29.

An independent committee should be established to evaluate all political advertisements, Sodrel said in his letter. The committee would respond to complaints regarding truthfulness or appropriateness of ads. Though it could not regulate the ads being put out by national parties and political action committees, Sodrel said the committee could set the record straight.

It would be made up of five members. Hill would appoint two republicans , Sodrel would appoint two democrats and the fifth member would be appointed by the other four.

They also would set forth ground rules for all advertisements and candidates would not have veto power over the rules it establishes.

Hill sent a return letter that did not address any of the specifics of Sodrel’s proposal. Instead, the congressman said he had “good reason to be skeptical of entering into campaign pledges with you. As history evidenced, you did not honor your word and broke our campaign pledge the last time around.”

He also accused Sodrel of closing his offices early after being defeated in 2006 and refusing to transfer constituents’ casework upon leaving office.

The two are running against each other for the fourth time. Hill won in 2002. Sodrel bested him in 2004 and held the seat until Hill took it back in 2006. Eric Schansberg, a Libertarian candidate for the same office, ran in 2006 and is on the ballot for November’s contest.

Hill wants Sodrel to apologize before he’ll agree to talk about campaign issues with him.

The second part of Sodrel’s proposal calls for 20 town hall-style debates, one in each county in the 9th Congressional District. Sodrel said he hopes Hill at least counters the offer.

Hill responded to that part of the request by saying that time is running out and that he already has commitments to which he has to attend.

Schansberg said he would like to be included in the town hall meetings if they do take place. However, he added, that it would be unlikely that Hill, as an incumbent, would agree to so many.

“I think this is Hill’s to lose,” Schansberg said.

Sodrel campaign manager Ryan Reger said he was unsure whether Schansberg would be included in the town hall meetings.

        

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