McLeod-Skinner holds debate despite Walden's absence

(KTVL/ Kimberly Kolliner)

House District 2 candidate Jamie McLeod-Skinner challenged incumbent Congressman Greg Walden to a debate Friday afternoon, which he did not attend.

McLeod-Skinner first challenged Walden at the Chief Joseph Day Parade in Joseph, Oregon, which was captured on tape and he looked to have accepted.

However, when asked about the debate last week, the Congressman said he'd be checking with his staff on scheduling.

He did not attend the debate at the RCC/SOU Higher Education Center in Medford.

Instead McLeod-Skinner debated against a member of the community who stood in for Walden and recited his policies on issues like immigration, healthcare and the tariff war.

"Despite the decimating impact it's having on our ag economy, our current representative is not speaking out and pushing back on this administration. He agrees with the administration 99 percent of the time instead of being able to say it's people before party. It's my constituents before my party's agenda," said McLeod-Skinner.

The stand in, Dick Pedersen recited, "I am not Greg Walden. Mr. Walden has stated that people know me, they know my record. I will be representing Walden’s positions based on his public comments and or his voting record in congress."

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