Debate or step down

Challenger Tryon Lewis said Monday if Buddy West won't debate him in the District 81 state representative runoff, the incumbent should step down.

"If Buddy can't do that, or doesn't want to do that - to face the public in those kinds of forums - there comes a time for everyone, regardless of what he's done or she's done, to step down," Lewis said. "That comes in everybody's life - I think that time's come (for him)."

State Rep. Buddy West, speaking after a news conference Monday, confirmed what his chief of staff said last week: He will not debate Tryon Lewis in the District 81 runoff election.

"There's no need for a debate," West said. "I've done everything he's trying to do. I've got a record. He doesn't.

"... All he's had is a judgeship," West said. "All he's done is judge people. I've worked for the people."

Lewis, however, said he believes a debate would be welcome by the constituents of District 81, which includes Ector, Andrews and Winkler counties.

"Odessa College and UTPB both felt, I think, that it's very important for the public to be able to listen to candidates, discuss the issues and to answer questions from the public," Lewis said.

"And I'm not above doing that," he said. "I'm very disappointed if Buddy feels that he is."

Last week, West's chief of staff Erin C. Trenser, said West wouldn't debate Lewis. She blasted Lewis for using his final minute in a debate at OC to question West's past leadership and charge the incumbent with not filing any significant bills related to public education, illegal immigration, water rights, tax reform or domestic violence.

Tresner disputed that, calling Lewis' statements "blatant lies."

West stopped short of saying he feels the same way.

"At Odessa College, he made some derogatory remarks," West said. "I said then I'd washed my hands of him."

Furthermore, West said, "I have no reason to debate him - I've already done it."

Even more, West said besides Odessa College, he'd attended another candidate forum that Lewis missed.

"He didn't show up for the first one," West said.

At a Feb. 7 forum at the VFW, Jesse Gore, Randy Rives and West all attended. Lewis did not. After the event, he told the OA via telephone that night that he didn't know about that forum.

West only answered a few questions following the news conference before Tresner said "that's enough" and escorted West away from reporters.

Lewis said he believes it's of utmost importance to speak to the public whenever called upon.

"However long someone is in the Legislature, they still should use the opportunities available to be able to talk to the public in public forums and to debate the issues," he said.