Republican Congressional Candidates Refuse To Participate In League Of Women Voters Forum

At least two Republican Congressional candidates are criticizing the League of Women Voters and are refusing to take part in a League forum scheduled for next week.

The League’s Ozaukee County chapter set up the forum in Mequon, and invited the four Republicans running in the 6th Congressional District primary. One of the contenders, state Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) has announced he won’t take part, citing the League’s opposition to the voter ID law he sponsored, which a court recently ruled was unconstitutional.

Another candidate, state Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-Campbellsport) has canceled his promised participation, saying he doesn’t see it necessary to take part.

Andrea Kaminski, the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, said the League’s forums are fair to all candidates, “which result in a forum that provides an opportunity for voters to hear from the candidates themselves, without having to listen to a lot of paid ads.”

Kaminski said the League of Women voters has existed for nearly a century, but she said only in recent years have candidates started deciding not to appear at forums. She said the League does not endorse candidates or political parties.

Kaminski said her group’s opposition to the voter ID law is based on longtime support for voting rights.

“What the voter ID law did was make it difficult, if not impossible, for many qualified voters to cast a vote and have it counted,” said Kaminski.

Kaminski said that the Mequon forum will be held with the two other candidates, state Rep. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) and technical college instructor Tom Denow.