Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Tom O’Halleran turned tail and ducked the Saturday debate in Maricopa for Congressional District 1.
The debate, sponsored by the Maricopa Monitor, the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and UltraStar, where O’Halleran skipped this same debate in the primary. This would have been the first debate between Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, the CD1 GOP nominee, and O’Halleran in the 2016 race. O’Halleran also declined a debate invitation by the Marana Chamber of Commerce for later this month.
“I had a great solo debate this morning in Pinal County although my opponent still is nowhere to be found. When applying for a job you should at least show up to the interview,” Babeu said. “Voters and media deserve to compare the candidates and issues. It was great talking with the voters and media who came out, but I was disappointed Mr. O’Halleran couldn’t bother to attend.”
“O’Halleran is hiding behind his false Nancy Pelosis attack ads and he realizes his brand of liberal policies play poorly in Pinal County, where Obamacare has failed and the Environmental Protection Agency threatens our electricity supplies, agriculture and mining industry.” Babeu continued, “Every candidate has events to attend, yet debates show the differences on important issues in full public view.”
Paul Babeu is a veteran of the Iraq War and spent 20 years in the Army National Guard, rising to the rank of major. In addition, Babeu commanded 700 troops on the Arizona-Mexico border as part of Operation Jump Start, which helped reduce illegal immigration and drug smuggling by 94 percent in the Yuma Sector. He was first elected Pinal County Sheriff in 2008 and won landslide reelection in 2012.