MacKenzie's Debate Dodge Draws Ire of Taxpayer

Ron Beitler

Pennsylvania's 134th legislative district is split between western Lehigh County and eastern Berks County. Incumbent Ryan MacKenzie was being groomed as Charlie Dent's successor in Congress and had announced his candidacy. But he had second thoughts when it finally dawned on him that no one outside his district knows who the Hell he is. Gerrymandering, which serves as an incumbent insurance policy for both parties, would keep his state house seat safe. He likes a system in which legislators decide who vote for them, instead of the other way around. He has run from a bipartisan attempt to reform this bad government. So it's no surprise that he would duck a debate, even though it was in front of a group that should embrace his conservative ideals.

Concerned East Penn Taxpayers Association, which is hardly what I'd call a progressive or liberal group, hosted a debate that was supposed to be between Mackenzie and Republican opponent Ron Beitler, a Lower Macungie Commissioner. MacKenzie sent campaign flunkie Gary Birks to explain that MacKenzie was held up in Harrisburg. He claimed he was called into caucus that day at 4:45 pm. He read a brief statement and took off before anyone could ask a question.

Below is an email that CEPTA member Otto Slozer sent in response.

Ryan MacKenzie

As most of you know, CEPTA scheduled a debate between Ryan Mackenzie and Ron Beitler--candidates for the State House 134th District. Mr.Mackenzie told us intitally that it would be difficult for him to attend because this week was a legislative session in Harrisburg. We offered to keep the spot open for Mackenzie in case he could make it. Leading into the week before, we also offered Mackenzie the opportunity to send a proxy speaker. This he did not respond to and we did not know if the debate was going to happen or not. In fact, Mackenzie sent a man to deliver a short speech for him in which he hit us (CEPTA) for scheduling the debate on a day that Harrisburg had a legislative session.

WE (CEPTA) under stand the commitments of the legislature. However, history shows us that the "legislative session" need not be a problem. We note that when Doug Reichley was our state representative he almost always made our meetings when he was to be the speaker (including Legislative session days). Furthermore, we told Mackenzie that if he made it late we would still give him the time to speak. Mackenzie never told us his intentions leaving the organizer guessing as to what to expect.

FACTS DON'T LIE!

Check out the video of the event found on the LVC E-paper at www.lvcommentator.com Early in the event I took to the microphone to announce FACTS THAT WE JUST LEARNED THROUGH A HARRISBURG CONTACT. They were as follows; the LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED JUST AFTER 4:30pm. The CAUCUS that Mackenzie's proxy speaker spoke of ended in 10 minutes and EVERYONE WAS GONE BY 5:00 PM. This left Mackenzie two and a half hours to make the trip to Emmaus.

Thursday, April 19th, Mackenzie was at the Berks County Patriots candidates event by 6pm. Thursday was also a "legislative session day" according to Mackenzie. Furthermore, Mackenzie spoke at the Berks event during the segment for those who have no opponent!

Mackenzie HAS AN OPPONENT NAMED RON BEITLER.

It appears that Ryan Mackenzie cannot be trusted to be an honest public servant. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT Mackenzie IS DUCKING ANY DEBATE WITH HIS ELECTION OPPONENT. Seeing Ron Beitler in action at the CEPTAevent and how competent Beitler is on many subjects it looks like Ryan Mackenzie is afraid to face his opponent.

Democrat Tom Applebach, Director of Veteran Affairs in Lehigh County, is also running for this seat.