Munroe declines Betras’ invitation

May 6, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Republican Party Chairman Mark Munroe is declining a request from his Democratic counterpart to publicly debate the merits of a new state law that severely restricts the collective- bargaining rights of public employees.

Democratic Chairman David Betras made the challenge Thursday — first emailing the request to the local media before sending it to Munroe. Betras obtained Munroe’s email address from a Vindicator reporter.

In the letter, Betras wrote the two “share very different opinions” on the law, commonly called Senate Bill 5 or SB 5.

Betras wrote the debate “would allow our respective supporters to gain information and determine what they feel would be the best for Mahoning County and the rest of the Valley.”

Betras said he’d be willing to debate Munroe anywhere the latter wanted.

In response, Munroe told The Vindicator he wouldn’t debate Betras because it isn’t certain a referendum will be on the November ballot to overturn the law.

If it gets on the ballot, Munroe said, “There will be plenty of opportunity for both sides to make their case.”

But Munroe declined to comment on whether he’d debate Betras if the issue is on the ballot.

“When your party is devoid of candidates because you’re devoid of ideas, you run,” Betras said of Munroe.

The two engaged in a war of words on SB 5 a little over a week ago after Betras had a press conference to criticize Munroe’s opinions of the law.