UPDATED: Keyes Challenges Therese Murray to Eight Debates

Tom Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senate in the Plymouth and Barnstable District, called for a series of debates with Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, Wednesday, Aug. 1, according to a release from Keyes' office. 

Keyes has sent a formal letter to Murray asking her to agree to this open discussion of ideas. Keyes does not say where he'd like the debates to be held. The Plymouth and Barnstable District, which was redistricted after the 2010 Census, includes Plymouth, Kingston, Pembroke, Bourne, Falmouth, and Sandwich.

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UPDATE: According to Murray's campaign, she has not yet received Keyes' letter as of Thursday.

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"To help the people make an informed choice, we need to tell them where we stand on the issues," stated Keyes. "We have the opportunity to make this campaign about issues rather than fundraising skills, so I hope the incumbent will join me in debating."

"There are so many serious issues confronting our state such as taxes, education, energy, legislative integrity, health care, the economy, public safety, transportation, and state spending. Each issue deserves more than a 30-second sound bite. Our differences should be aired in public forums in an open discussion of ideas," said Keyes. "I think voters deserve to hear directly from the candidates rather through a filter of paid advertisements." 

Keyes is proposing eight debates over the next three months until the General Election. Each debate would be an hour long.

According to the release, Keyes believes that debating is the best way for voters to be get educated on the differences between the candidates.

"Now that the legislative session has ended, she should have more than enough time to debate, so I am hoping that the incumbent will make herself available for a total of 8 hours over 3 months to debate," said Keyes.   

Keyes, 45, has served on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and as a Sandwich Selectman as well as numerous boards and committees. Keyes founded his private practice, Keyes Quality Systems in 1998, providing consulting and contract services in management, ethics and compliance.