Peru mayoral candidates Scott Harl and Ken Kolowski disagree with original debate request

As the weather cools down, the race for Peru mayor begins to heat up after challenger Ken Kolowski announced on his campaign Facebook page that he was sent a letter from Mayor Scott Harl asking him to take part in three debates.

The two are vying for the Peru mayor seat in the April 6 election.

Kolowski conducted a 20-minute Facebook Live session where he expressed his concerns of scheduling three in-person debates in the current COVID-19 climate, among other concerns.

“I got the letter right before the holidays and I read through it, of course, and I just don’t feel that during the pandemic, three debates are necessary,” Kolowski said.

Kolowski said in 2013 that the candidates for mayor took part in a single question-and-answer format debate.

Harl said he believed because of the ongoing circumstances that there was a need for more debates to give residents of Peru the opportunity to hear from both candidates.

“They are going to be voting for the mayor of their town; it’s pretty important,” Harl said. “They need to hear everyone’s points of view on everything.”

Kolowski said he would be more than willing to take part in a debate with Harl and said he was honored at the mayor’s invitation.

“I said at the end of the video: I’m not afraid of a debate,” Kolowski said. “I’m a good talker. Whatever’s in my brain comes out my mouth. That’s what you get with Kenny, that’s who I am.”

Harl said the candidates need to begin working on setting up debates because they need to be prepared to make COVID-19-related changes to the traditional format.

“The library or the League of Women Voters or WLPO usually hosts, and I doubt that will happen, and it needs to happen in my opinion,” Harl said.

Harl said he was putting together possible space to host the debates, that would include the two candidates, two moderators (one from each candidate) and a panel of about two individuals to field incoming questions to pass along to the moderators.

The letter, posted by Kolowski’s campaign page, stated the intent to begin scheduling three debates with the focus on the following topics: infrastructure and finance, economic development and downtown beautification, and parks and public safety.

The certified letter also said that “the citizens of Peru deserve to know their candidates and their views of Peru. Debating three times live in front of the public gives Peruvians that opportunity.”

Kolowski said that while he is open to discussing the topics given, he has discovered on his ground campaign that many of the issues he has discussed with Peru residents will not be able to be addressed under the given topics.

Kolowski recommended a single debate near the end of March, when the pandemic is hopefully more under control, to give undecided voters the opportunity to hear from each candidate before the April 6 election.

Harl indicated that his camp will be sending out a response to Kolowski in the coming days to try and work out the specifics of the debates while keeping in mind the challenges that may be presented because of the pandemic.

Both candidates seem more than willing to participate in a debate with the other, but the amount of meetings, topics of discussion and debate format still are to be determined.