Whitver Campaign Media Release

Media Release
Re: Proposed Debate Format for House District 66
Contact: Jack Whitver – 1-515-460-3318 or Jon Narcisse 515-280-8092

Today an invitation to debate House District 66 issues was extended to Mr. Ako Abdul Samad from Jack Whitver. His campaign declined the invitation. His campaign further charged the Whitver campaign with being insensitive to Mr. Abdul Samad's family member being ill.

This was not the case. Our campaign has sent an expression of sympathy to Mr. Abdul Samad. It is important to note, however, that Mr. Abdul Samad has not suspended his campaign operation nor did he postpone plans to be recognized at tonight's school board meeting.

Jack Whitver was scheduled to walk House District 66 this morning including Mr. Abdul Samad's precinct. As a courtesy he informed Mr. Abdul Samad of his intention to deliver an invitation to debate. Upon learning of Mr. Abdul Samad's sick relative he shared he could leave the request with a campaign staffer or at Mr. Abdul Samad's house in the door.

The reaction from Mr. Abdul Samad's campaign was unfair, unwarranted and a tragic performance to divert attention from the primary point - debating the issues.

Mr. Abdul Samad's campaign manager could have simply accepted the invitation and closed the door. Mr. Abdul Samad could have done the same. Instead he utilized a formula that has become his standard response to requests for answers this summer - he played the victim.

Throughout this campaign Jack Whitver has been offered opportunity after opportunity to discuss Mr. Abdul Samad's involvement with CIETC and the scandal surrounding Creative Visions. He has declined, instead focusing on House District 66 issues. At the same time Mr. Abdul Samad has rejected numerous opportunities to publicly discuss his agenda for House District 66 including rejecting invitations extended from WOW 98.3 and WHO 1040 AM.

Prior to making our decision to deliver the invitation this morning we discovered his intentions to attend tonight's school board meeting where he was scheduled to receive recognition from Sisters on Target, the AALC and other supporters of his.

Ms. Tamra Saltzman-Moss, his publicist, also confirmed this morning his intention to attend the school board meeting, which he in fact did tonight. Mr. Abdul Samad had time to accept awards today, time to campaign today, and time to conduct other normal business today yet he became tearful when presented an invitation to debate Jack Whitver.

While we are sympathetic to family tragedy, family tragedy should not be used to further political agendas as Mr. Abdul Samad attempted to use his today.

The challenges facing this district are very important and the voters deserve to know where both candidates stand on the issues. We are therefore extending another invitation to his campaign to debate. Attached is the proposed format.

It is substantive and very fair. We await his campaign's response.