CONGRESSMAN SMITH CAMPAIGN ACCEPTS

JOSH WELLE’S DEMAND FOR DEBATE

(Eatontown, NJ) – Today, the Welle campaign announced that 38-year incumbent Chris Smith has finally agreed to debate NJ-4 Democratic challenger, Josh Welle. This announcement comes shortly after NJTV released their schedule of debates for the 2018 midterm election. Notably, every incumbent facing a challenger had accepted other than Representative Smith.

“I’m pleased to know Chris Smith is going to debate after more than a thousand petition signatures and constituent requests. The voters of this district deserve leaders that respect them and listen,” Welle said. “I’d suggest a next step would be that Smith host a town hall and actually meet with voters to hear their concerns directly, as I have been since last year. Apparently, it has taken a real threat from a Navy veteran to his 38-year political career to feel accountable to the people.”

The Welle campaign has made repeated calls for Representative Smith to come to New Jersey. Welle requested three debates with Representative Smith after winning the Democratic primary in June, and despite numerous visits to Smith’s offices, several letters, and an online petition numbering over a thousand signatures, there has been complete silence from the Smith campaign. However, with less than 30 days until the election, and with the Welle campaign repeatedly breaking fundraising records in what is considered a solidly Republican district, Smith finally appears to be taking the threat Welle poses to his incumbency seriously.

News12: Wednesday, October 17, in studio starting at 12:00pm.