Ellen Arthur, the Democratic Party nominee for the 24th District in Virginia’s House of Delegates, announced Wednesday that she has accepted an invitation from The Lexington News-Gazette to participate in a formal debate with her opponent, Del. Ben Cline, in advance of the November 3 election.
“There is a real contrast in the way that important issues in this district have been handled compared to how they will be handled if I am elected in November,” Arthur said. “The people of the 24th District deserve to hear these issues outlined during a full-scale one-on-one debate. I am excited about this opportunity and I am eager to set a date.”
The Arthur campaign says both candidates have been offered flexibility in choosing the time, date and location in the debate invitation; the potential host will also allow the candidates to help select a neutral moderator and have a say in the overall format.
Arthur is participating in several candidate forums and meet-and-greets in September and October, but this would be the first formal debate of the campaign.
Arthur is a retired attorney who practiced in Lexington for 37 years. She is currently the Democratic nominee seeking the House of Delegates seat in the 24th District.