Ben Cline

Ben Cline ghosted the good people of Clifton Forge on their invitation to speak directly to voters of the Alleghany Highlands. This maintains his pattern of dodging, ducking and avoiding chances to meet me in public in a real debate.

In August, Cline did not respond to a debate invitation from Cardinal News and Roanoke College for an event that would have been held on the college’s campus. Instead, he scheduled a list of appearances at lunchtime ‘forums,’ rather than debate me. I agreed to a joint appearance in Harrisonburg, which was subsequently cancelled by the host.

Cline’s vanishing act isn’t surprising, because he’s been MIA in the Sixth District.

In May, he told Charlottesville’s 29News that he planned to hold town hall meetings with constituents in all 22 localities. So far, he has held zero.

With 35 days to go before Election Day, the congressman sure is going to be busy with town hall appearances. Let us know if you see a rare Ben Cline sighting in the wild!

And in Roanoke, he has not met with constituents who have gathered outside his office every Monday for 88 straight weeks, through heat, rain, wind and sleet. Not even a wave or a hello.

And now he ignores the good people of Clifton Forge and the Alleghany Highlands.

I will keep my word, and I look forward to meeting folks in Clifton Forge on Oct. 14.