Ipswich candidate Forum spat

Read the full article by Alison Kuznitz on State House News.

Statehouse News

Mark Tashjian, a Republican running to unseat Democrat Rep. Kristin Kassner in the 2nd Essex District, blasted the incumbent Tuesday for apparently bailing on a candidate forum in Ipswich.

Meanwhile, Kassner says she agreed to participate in a League of Women Voters event that her opponent declined.

Tashjian, a business owner and member of the Georgetown Finance Committee, said he still intends to participate in the event hosted by the Ipswich Democrat Town Committee and Republican Town Committee on Wednesday night at Ipswich Town Hall.

"Although both campaigns confirmed participation and her team produced fliers, Rep. Kassner decided she will not participate due to a scheduling conflict and she has offered no alternative dates," Tashjian said in a campaign message. "I will still be attending and it is my hope that Kristin will change her mind."

Republican Town Committee Chair Dan Kelly, in a letter to the editor published by The Town Common last week, criticized Kassner for pulling out less than two weeks before the forum because of potentially "critical legislation" happening on that date -- as well as her senior campaign advisor Elizabeth Kilcoyne for raising concerns about the debate format and moderators after "having previously agreed" to the terms.

​"The Ipswich Republican Town Committee believes these excuses are pretextual and reveal a candidate who is purposely evading the only live forum where both candidates will appear," Kelly, who's also advising Tashjian’s campaign, wrote.

The House, which for months has been holding sparsely attended informal sessions, is not scheduled to meet Wednesday. Kassner told the News Service she plans to be at the State House on Wednesday for Seafood Day.

Kassner, in a statement, said "our campaign has ongoing concerns about the format and lack of impartiality of moderators. It is unfortunate our opponent declined the League of Women Voters forum, which could have given voters the opportunity to hear from both candidates in a fair, impartial setting." 

Kassner joined the House in February 2023, after a recount showed that she edged former five-term Republican Rep. Lenny Mirra by one vote in the 2022 election.