Editor’s note: This letter is in response to several letters, posted on eastbayri.com this week and in these pages, concerning League of Women Voters of Newport County-sponsored forums. 

To the editor:

To clarify, the East Bay forums that included District 11 State Senate forum held on Oct. 13 was not sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Newport County. That forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of East Bay and the East Bay Media Group. Any concerns or questions about this forum should be addressed to East Bay Media Group or the League of Women Voters of East Bay.

As far as the District 11 forum sponsored by the East Bay Group is concerned, Mr. Mendonça is correct as he clearly did attend the forum on Oct. 13. 

On Oct. 5, Mr. Mendonça accepted the invitation to attend the District 11State Senate forum in Portsmouth on Oct. 20 at Common Fence Point Arts Wellness Community. On Oct. 17, he requested that the moderator for this event be removed and replaced by another. He also requested that the format for the evening be sent to him as well.

Immediately the moderator was replaced, and the format was sent to him. After that, the League never heard back from Mr. Mendonça concerning his attendance at the forum. Adhering to the national LWV rules that state “a debate sponsor may not proceed with a debate unless two candidates for the same office appear at the same event,” thus forcing the cancellation of the District 11 forum in Portsmouth on Oct. 20.

The LWV hosted the first-ever televised national debate in 1960 and received an Emmy Award for this event. The intent of these debates was to focus on nonpartisan issues with the main goal of informing the voters. With that in mind, that too was the focus for those running for the Portsmouth Town Council. 

The Common Fence Point Arts Wellness Community Center offered to host the Portsmouth Town Council (PTC) forum with no fee being charged to the Newport League. The League was offered four potential dates. These dates were immediately passed on to all candidates. 

After sending out these dates, it was brought to our attention that there was a conflict on two of the nights as there was a Town Council meeting on one of the dates and a School Committee meeting on the other, thus removing these dates as options. Emails (commencing Oct. 9 and ending Oct. 18) sent to and from the LWVNC and the potential candidates show that all candidates had an equal ability to respond to date selection for the PTC forum. 

It was expressed several times by the League to all candidates the desire to have all voices heard. The League kept the invitation open to all candidates up until the start of the forum on Oct. 27. 

We hope that this response better helps the people of Portsmouth understand what occurred both on the 20th and 27th of October. 

Jill Kassis

Former president

Christine Keyser

Current convener

The League of Women Voters of Newport County