Shoemaker calls for debates

Today, Nebraskans for Shoemaker, the campaign to elect McCook Attorney Frank Shoemaker to the 44th district legislative seat, challenged the Mark Christensen campaign to a series of four themed debates.

In a letter to campaign Manager Steve Grams, Nebraskans for Shoemaker invited the opposing camp to help create "opportunities for undecided voters to compare our respective candidates on a side-by-side, issue-by-issue basis."

The challenge specified four debates to be held in the months of September and October. The first debate would be dedicated to topics associated with health care and would take place in Benkelman. The second would address agriculture and water and would be held in Imperial. The third debate, held in McCook, would focus upon education and the last debate, held in Arapahoe, would be dedicated to economic development.

Of the invitation, Shoemaker Communications Director Mike O'Dell said, "The voters deserve an opportunity to make an informed decision about this race. We are one hundred percent confident that our candidate's ability to articulate positons on broad range of topics will help undecided voters identify the better candidate."

The Shoemaker team has invited the opposing campaign to discuss specific dates and format. Individuals, organizations or media outlets that wish to sponsor one or more of the debates are encouraged to contact either campaign.

Frank Shoemaker is a practicing attorney and farmer who was born in Cambridge, Nebraska, attended Cambridge Public High School and graduated in 1967. In 1971, Shoemaker graduated from Doane College, Crete, Nebraska with a Bachelor of Arts in History and was a member of the United States Peace Corps from 1971 to 1973, living in Ecuador, South America. Shoemaker graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1978 and sits on the board of directors for Pinpoint Communications in Cambridge, Nebraska. Shoemaker is seeking election to the legislature in the 44th district on a platform that emphasizes the importance of quality education, lower property taxes and a realistic approach to the management of water. Shoemaker's campaign Web site is located at www.nebraskansforshoemaker.com