Dr. Mike Katz squared off against John Clatworthy last night at Hockessin Memorial Hall. As reported by The News Journal the debate between Katz and his opponent focused on Clatworthy’s negative ad.
State spending, education and experience in small businesses were the main topics for candidates competing for the 4th District: Republican John Clatworthy and Democrat Mike Katz. They are vying for the seat Copeland vacated by opting not to run for re-election.
Katz responded to accusations made via campaign brochures that claimed he was going to raise spending and taxes, saying they were an example of negative campaign tactics by Clatworthy.
“Unfortunately, John has chosen to run a very negative campaign,” Katz said. “This is what’s wrong with politics. John spent $30,000 going negative on me and sending not true, false information to our community. It’s scare politics and scare tactics.”
Clatworthy said Katz had completed a survey and indicated he wanted to increase spending in several segments of government including education. Clatworthy said because of the growth of government, the state cannot tolerate increases in any sector.
“With a $200 million shortfall, you can’t greatly increase spending,” Clatworthy said.
Katz said Clatworthy is misrepresenting his positions and that he wants to increase efficiency in order to reroute money to needed programs and in turn reduce taxes for residents.
Interestingly enough, Clatworthy is criticizing Dr. Mike Katz’s response to Project Vote Smart, when Clatworthy did not respond to their Political Courage Test. What do they call it when some lacks “courage”? Any ideas, John?
Katz summarizes his answers as thus:
- Cut Government Waste
- Reduce our tax burden
- Invest in small business
- Reduce Healthcare costs
- Strengthen our schools
The benefit of living in a politically split house (mother-in-law is a Republican and the wife is a Libertarian), Clatworthy’s negative ad was delivered to my doorstep. The front of the ad makes little mention of John Clatworthy (the return address only) and less than 20% of the total ad mentions the paying candidate. There is the nice grainy black and white picture of the Democratic candidate stating that he is wrong. But most surprising of all, on one line of the ad that happens to be in bright yellow, mentions Clatworthy’s opponent with the word “Killing” twice.
Classy, John, classy.
Will the voters of the 4th Senate District buy into John Clatworthy’s negative ad? Or, will the voters repudiate such nonsense?
