ANDERSON — With just 20 days until the election, Republican state representative candidate Kelly Gaskill has refused incumbent state Rep. Scott Reske’s challenge to meet in a second public forum for District 37 candidates.

In a written statement, Gaskill refused the challenge, indicating that there was not enough time to organize such an event.

“Unfortunately, after 10 months of campaigning, we are within 20 short days of the election,” the statement read. “I fear that sufficient time doesn’t remain to organize a quality, inclusive and informative public forum.”

She criticized Reske for using a press release to challenge his opponents and offered him some advice.

“Mr. Reske may be confused,” the statement continued. “We aren’t running for president. We are running for state representative. This campaign and the job is about knowing the people we represent and being in touch with our community. It’s time for Scott Reske to come out from behind his podium and go out and meet real people. That’s what I’m doing.”

On Wednesday, Reske responded by saying he’s knocked on doors consistently all summer.

“Her refusal to debate is her unwillingness to discuss real issues,” Reske said. “Voters need to know what her views on issues are so they can make a informed decision.”

The incumbent took issue with Gaskill’s remark about not running for president.

“I take the office seriously,” Reske said. “There are important issues facing people that state representatives deal with — jobs, property tax, health care, economic development — and she can’t represent people well if she belittles the office. If she doesn’t take the job seriously, why is she running?”

Reske originally said he hoped the debate would help inform voters about issues not discussed in the first forum, including gas prices, illegal immigration and health care.

Gaskill’s statement indicated that said she had other means of bringing the issues to voters. “We have knocked on over 8,000 doors in the last 10 months. I am enjoying talking with real people, answering questions and learning what matters most to them. They tell me they are tired of the political talk and partisan politics and are eager to see something get accomplished.”

Gaskill’s statement also noted Reske’s method of challenging candidates. Rather than contacting Libertarian challenger Robert Jozwiak and Gaskill personally, Reske’s campaign issued a written statement Tuesday.

“Mr. Reske has not yet contacted me or anyone involved with my campaign to discuss a forum,” Gaskill’s statement said. “I question why he has waited until 20 days before the election to realize the seriousness of the election and then do so by issuing a press release,”

Reske said Tuesday that he had good reason not to call the Gaskill campaign.

“Obviously, I can’t call them,” he said. “I called them to have an agreement to not have a negative campaign and look what happened. I have to do this through some other medium.”

On Sept. 25, Kelly Gaskill’s husband, Mike, filed a police complaint against Reske claiming that Reske threatened his business reputation after the two spoke on the phone.

On Oct. 3, Anderson police detective Mitch Carroll closed the case after finding no criminal intent.

Though Jozwiak agreed to the second forum, he said he did not believe Reske’s intentions in arranging the second forum were meant to benefit voters.

“I think that Kelly is a very nice person, and I think that public speaking is not her strong point, but I think Scott Reske is trying to prey on her weakness,” Jozwiak said. “I think what he did by challenging us to a debate was more a stunt in order to get his name and his face back on the front page of the paper.”

Voters will get a chance to hear from the candidates in a second forum, Jozwiak said, on Monday, when the NAACP hosts its own debate.

Reske indicated that he, too, would attend the NAACP forum.

Since she would not answer direct questions from the media, it was unclear Wednesday whether Gaskill would attend the NAACP event.

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The next public forum

What: NAACP political forum

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 20

Where: New Birth Worship Center, 403 W. 22nd St., Anderson

The forum will be aired live on WHBU-AM 1240 from 7 to 8 p.m. on “Taking It to the Street Beat.”