GOP rival criticizes Bean for not debating him
When she first ran for Congress in 2002, Democrat Melissa Bean criticized then-Rep. Phil Crane for not meeting her in public debates.
Today, Bean represents Illinois' 8th House District - and she's facing the same heat from her latest Republican challenger.
In a news release issued this week, Long Grove Republican Steve Greenberg accused Bean of ducking his challenge for debates and hiding from her stances on political issues.
"There is no excuse for not giving the public an opportunity to ask questions of their current and future Representatives," Greenberg said in the release.
Bean is willing to debate and isn't hiding from voters or the issues, her spokesman said in response to Greenberg's criticism.
"Congresswoman Bean, unlike her predecessor, has been widely accessible since elected, with proactive constituent outreach," Bean spokesman Jonathan Lipman said. "She is proud of her record, which reflects the fiscally conservative and socially moderate values of her district, and looks forward to engaging in the political process, including debate."
In 2002, Bean told the Daily Herald she wanted to debate Crane but only heard excuses from his office about why he wouldn't meet her in a public forum. She lost that race but upset the veteran Crane two years later.
They did publicly debate during that second campaign. She also debated GOP challenger David McSweeney before defeating him in 2006.
Greenberg is a business owner and a former minor-league hockey player who's never run for public office before.
He formally challenged Bean to at least three public debates earlier this month. He proposed the meetings should be staged in September and October, leading up to Election Day on Nov. 4.
He said he hasn't gotten a response from Bean or her campaign team.
"I think the people deserve the opportunity to vet myself and Mrs. Bean (on) where we stand," he said. "If she really believes in what she stands for, she should stand up in any place and at any time."
The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.