POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Debate challenge gone awry
View in browser BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by UPS UNFORCED ERROR — Bristol County sheriff hopeful and Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux is the latest candidate to accuse his November rival of refusing to debate. Except this time, it’s not entirely true. The latest controversy in an already contentious sheriff’s race began when Heroux’s campaign sent out a press release Thursday saying Sheriff Tom Hodgson “refused to debate.” The Democrat claimed the Republican incumbent “backed out of a debate” moderated by New Bedford Light’s Jack Spillane, “refused an offer” to debate by the League of Women Voters and “did not respond” to the NAACP New Bedford branch about a candidate forum. At the end of the press release, Heroux’s campaign said it was “unclear” whether Hodgson had agreed to a televised debate on WPRI slated for Oct. 28. But Hodgson had accepted WPRI’s debate offer on Sept. 15, the same day invitations were sent out, WPRI’s Ted Nesi confirmed t...