Clay Middleton is trying hard to pull a comeback win in the District 111 race. Charleston City Councilman Wendell Gilliard pulled in 46 percent of the vote, but it wasn’t enough to win the seat outright. He’ll be facing Middleton in a run-off election on Tuesday, June 24.
Middleton, well aware that it’ll be difficult to overcome his deficit, has challenged Gilliard to a debate. Getting more face time in the district and in the press is key in both attracting new voters and getting his folks back to the polls.
Gilliard told the Post and Courier that he hasn’t been invited to a debate. If he had, he’d likely decline. The potential loss of voters disappointed in the lack of a debate is minimal at this point. And Middleton’s excitement for a face-off suggests he sees it as a step up and Gilliard knows better than to offer a ladder.
What Middleton needs to do is what he’s likely doing — shaking hands like nobodies business and hitting community meetings and church groups. Bring up the lack of debate by questioning whether Wendell Gilliard is already taking the district’s voters for granted.
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