STENDER CANCELS YET ANOTHER SCHEDULED DEBATE

For Immediate Release: October 17, 2008

Contact: Amanda Woloshen, 908-267-1613

STENDER CANCELS YET ANOTHER SCHEDULED DEBATE

-- Under Fire for Negative Ads; Spending Scandal, Stender Runs and Hides --

GREEN BROOK, NJ - Seventh District congressional candidate Leonard Lance today criticized his opponent Assemblywoman Linda Stender for canceling yet another already scheduled debate.  This time, Stender cancelled the 10/29 debate sponsored by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.

"Assemblywoman Stender's decision to cancel debates is wrong," said Leonard Lance.  "During this economic crisis, voters across Central New Jersey deserve to hear the candidates talk face-to-face about the future of New Jersey.  We should be having more debates, not fewer.  I call on Assemblywoman Stender to stop hiding behind her false and negative advertising and join me on the stage in front of voters in addressing the important issues of the day."

The Stender for Congress campaign has now declined or cancelled the following debates: 

Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce:  STENDER CANCELLED

Westfield Leader newspaper: STENDER DECLINED

Gateway Union County Chamber of Commerce: STENDER DECLINED

AARP/Channel 9 NY: STENDER CANCELLED

Stender's ducking and dodging debates is another sign that things aren't going well for the Trenton Democrat. 

Earlier this week, Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine took Linda Stender to task in a scathing column that criticized Stender's campaign advertisements.

Mulshine wrote, "Democrat Linda Stender is running the single sleaziest campaign ad I have ever seen," adding, "In politics, there's a technical term for what Stender is doing here.  It's called ‘lying.'"  Mulshine has been covering New Jersey politics for more than 30 years.

The entire Star-Ledger column can be found by clicking here. 

Stender is also entangled in a brewing scandal regarding her participation in the so-called MAC program - a secret slush fund that gave key legislative leaders sole discretion over millions of taxpayer dollars in state money.  To date, Stender has refused to explain her role in the secret slush fund scandal.

"Branded a negative campaigner, embroiled in scandal, down the polls and wrong on the issues, it's no wonder Linda Stender doesn't want to debate Leonard Lance," said Lance for Congress campaign manager Amanda Woloshen.

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