Reader unhappy with GOP forum decision

To the Editor:
Our current state legislators (Republicans all) seem to be emulating their party’s presidential candidate in  refusing to appear in an impartial forum.
If the refusal to participate in a mutual forum or debate is to prevent the voting public from comparing their positions to those of the opposing party, I submit it is not in the best interests of their party or those who might be deciding for whom  to vote. Apparently, Donald Trump has chosen to do the same in his refusal to debate Kamala Harris.
As a citizen of Lee County and a constituent of two of these legislators, I am disappointed in their mutual decision to deprive the voters of an opportunity to answer pertinent questions put forth by impartial moderators and sponsored by our print
and electronic media and a trusted impartial organization.
Instead, after this forum was established by these entities, the
legislators chose to conduct their own forum. No opponents were apparently invited to be on the stage with them and of course they could not be as they were honoring their commitment to the
sponsors of the public forum.
Interestingly, the incumbents chose to conduct their forum on the same date and time, but at a different location - an
action that only served to divide those citizens who took the time to decide which forum to attend.
It was, as is Mr. Trump’s decision, an unfortunate political action that left voters in our area short-changed in the important process of deciding which candidate to support.
Respectfully,
Jerry Kearns
Keokuk, IA 52632