Trzop bows out of TV debate with ‘illegitimate candidate’ Tim Hutchins

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

PETE TRZOP

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, 8:30 a.m. — Judge Executive candidate Pete Trzop announced Tuesday he was not participating in the PLG-TV televised candidate forum.

“While I appreciate your offer, I cannot be a part of a forum that allows for an illegitimate candidate to be part of the debate,” Trzop wrote, referring to questions about the signatures on Tim Hutchins’ nominating petition. Hutchins is an independent candidate for judge executive.

According to Trzop’s statement, Hutchins’ nominating petition “is filled with errors, mistakes and false signatures.”

Trzop took Nelson County Clerk Elaine Filiatreau to task because she “refused to do her job of administering Kentucky election laws.” Filiatreau has previously stated her office accepts nominating petitions as they are filed and does not certify their correctness as part of that process.

Trzop also claims he was unfairly attacked during the PLG candidate forum four years ago when he, Hutchins and incumbent Dean Watts faced off in the General Election for judge executive.

“They used these forums last time to attack me with no fairness from the moderators in the area of time,” Trzop wrote. “Given the bias of the media in this campaign and teamwork by Hutchins and Watts, I am choosing to take my campaign directly to the people.”

Trzop said he will also skip the Farm Bureau candidate forum next week, though he will consider participating in a candidate forum that excludes Hutchins.

Oct. 6 is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 4 General Election.

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