Engaged in an already heated congressional race, incumbent United States Congressman Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, and challenger Randy Altschuler, R-St. James, will engage in their first East End debate on Sunday in Riverhead.
The event will be hosted by the Long Island Organizing Network, a coalition of faith-based, community and labor organizations, at The First Baptist Church of Riverhead at 3:30 p.m.
Candidates are slated to address questions on a range of issues including immigration to health care; journalist Joye Brown will moderate.
The race is the second time the candidates vying for the first congressional district seat have faced off; the pair challenged one another in 2010 and Bishop won by a narrow margin of 593 votes after an audit of voting machines.
“Put yourself in a position to make an informed choice on Election Day," said First Baptist Church of Riverhead Reverend Charles Coverdale. "Come and hear for yourself what Randy Altschuler and Tim Bishop have to say about the issues that are important to you."
So far, over 300 have registered for the event; others are welcome to attend. Representatives from area labor unions, business associations, political groups, immigrant advocacy groups and members of various churches are expected to attend.
“Democracy works best when voters are informed. Activists have fought hard for voters’ rights, and attending events such as this one serves to remind us of those rights and the need to use them” Luis Valenzuela, Executive Director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance, said.
Another debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday at Hampton Bays High School. That debate is sponsored by the Hampton Bays Civic Association.
Are you going to the debate on Sunday between Tim Bishop and Randy Altschuler? What candidate will you support on Election Day? Tell us in the comments section.
