Incumbent assemblymember rejects call for debate

Assemblymember Didi Barrett has rejected calls for a debate with primary challenger Sam Hodge, saying the first-time candidate has spent the campaign misrepresenting her record and failing to offer substantive policy proposals.

Hodge first posed his debate challenge to Barrett in early May following a public forum hosted by the Claverack Democratic Committee. The forum gave voters a chance to hear from both candidates for 30 minutes as they vie for the 106th district seat.

Hodge cited intense public interest in the forum as his inspiration for issuing the challenge, saying important questions went unanswered. He proposed hour-long debates — one in Columbia County and one in Dutchess County.

That challenge went unanswered, Hodge’s campaign said in a statement.

“Voters deserve the chance to hear our competing visions for the future of the Hudson Valley,” Hodge said. “People deserve a real conversation about solutions.”

Barrett questioned Hodge’s credibility when asked whether she would debate him.

“Sam Hodge has spent this entire campaign lying about me and my record while I have been busy doing the job I was elected to do,” Barrett said. “We just finished the legislative session;I have been in Albany almost every day of the week – often until 10 p.m. or later, and on the weekends my priority has been getting to events in my district. Given his track record with telling the truth and his failure to put forward any real policies, I will not be debating him.”

Barrett’s campaign disputed several of Hodge’s characterizations of her record, including claims that she opposes higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers, citing her support for a tax on ultra-luxury New York City apartments.

Hodge decried Barrett’s statements as unfounded personal attacks. He rejected the assertion that he’s unfamiliar with Barrett’s record.

“I looked into her record and I was fundamentally disappointed,” Hodge said. “That’s why I decided to jump in this race.”