WAUKEE – In response to his challenger’s refusal to attend the Waukee Chamber of Commerce-sponsored forum, Mayor Bill Peard today offered Isaiah McGee another opportunity to appear jointly before voters to discuss the city’s future direction.

Peard noted that he agreed to appear at the chamber’s event, set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, and continues to believe that forum is the most appropriate venue for candidates to state their case to voters.  McGee, who announced his candidacy in May, told a Chamber official in September that he could not prepare for a debate by Oct. 7 and that the date “did not fit into his strategic plan.”  He then declined the chamber invitation, saying he could not reschedule the meeting of a group that he currently heads.

“Five of the six council candidates and I accepted the Chamber’s invitation. I’m sure I’m not the only one who changed his schedule to make sure we’ll be there. My challenger has refused to attend and wanted to make the Chamber, other candidates and the public change their schedules to accommodate him so we’ll give him another chance,” Peard said. “My campaign has even contacted the Chamber forum moderator to check on his availability so Mr. McGee knows a follow-up forum will be as close to the traditional event as possible.” 

Peard added, “I want every voter in Waukee to know that I accepted the chamber’s invitation to appear with my opponent on Oct. 7. I’m proud of my record of leading one of Iowa’s most-dynamic communities and achieving remarkable progress without a single property tax increase during the past 10 years.   It’s sad that one candidate thinks a different set of rules should apply to him, but if that’s the case, I’d be more than willing to debate Mr. McGee at a different time and place. The stakes are high for Waukee the next two years. The city needs proven, trusted leadership capable of answering a challenge at a moment’s notice. Clearly, only one candidate in this race has that capability.”