Jennifer Migliore, right, has challenged opponent Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) to a series of debates. Item File Photo
By Bridget Turcotte
SAUGUS — With a Democratic primary victory under her belt, Jennifer Migliore has her sights set on debating her opponent, state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus).
While nothing has been scheduled, Migliore has challenged Wong, who has held the seat since 2011, to a series of five unscripted debates. Her campaign manager e-mailed Wong’s campaign manager Tuesday.
But Wong is concerned that a series of debates might be unreasonable this late in the game.
“If you only have eight weeks, how are you going to have five debates?” he said.
Wong said he agrees that it’s important to have a debate. He added that he would want to hear from sponsors who wish to host one before making a commitment.
“I’m interested to see what sponsors are going to come up to me and ask for a debate,” Wong said. “I would like to see their criterias and everything else. The last debate they had, the two candidates were given questions ahead of time.”
Migliore, a 25-year-old Saugus resident, said it’s important to engage in an active debate, rather than a forum.
“I’ve heard that Lincoln-Douglas style debates are a much better way to approach it,” she said. “The voters deserve to hear our answers candidly, and not have canned responses.”
Wong said he would be open to a debate or a forum.
“I am open to debates,” Wong said. “I have a lot to debate. I could go either way. I have debated with questions and without them. There’s a lot of mythical information being put out there. The main thing is to get the information out there.”
Efficient communication is the most important thing, he said.
“I think that for this job, you have to know what’s in your job description and what isn’t,” he said. “What you can do and what you can’t do. I’ve heard some things that a candidate has promised that have nothing to do with the state rep.”
Both candidates agreed that education would be the most important topic to discuss.
Finding ways to fund education adequately throughout the district, and building a new high school in Wakefield and in Saugus are on the top of the list, Migliore said.
“There is a lot at stake in this election,” she said. “I think it’s critically important for voters to know how Rep. Wong and I approach the issues.”
She believes they have very different opinions on how to approach public health and education and how to fix crumbling infrastructure.
“I’m pushing for as many debates as possible,” she said.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
