In a lively debate for 29th Ward committeeman race, Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) and U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-7th) appeared live on CLTV’s “Politics Tonight” Wednesday evening.
Davis announced last month he would run against Graham on the March 20 ballot for the position she currently holds.
When Graham officially kicked off her campaign a few weeks later, she said Davis can best serve the West Side by doing his job in Washington.
“Born and raised in the Austin community,” Graham said the committeeman “is the voice for the community.”
Davis said the committeeman is the “political leader,” and in that position, he would “let people know they have an open opportunity to make political decisions.”
The debate, lasting less than a half hour, was heated at times, with one caller telling them, “This is an argument, not a debate.” Both Davis and Graham nodded in agreement.
Earlier, Davis told Graham she “should be ashamed” for comments she had made about his voting record.
AustinTalks shared a Chicago Tribune article last month that showed just two other congressmen in the Illinois delegation missed more votes than Davis. Graham mentioned the story during the debate, prompting the congressman to say that Graham was incorrect in saying “he has the third-worst voting record in Congress.”
Jobs creation was the most common concern for those who called with questions.
While Davis said the committeeman does not create jobs, he said in his position as congressman, he’s brought more than $28 billion to the 7th Congressional District over the last 10 years.
Graham asked, “If $28 billion has come to our community, where is it?”
Graham said she, too, is working to bring jobs to the community, including plans to develop Chicago Avenue as “a black business district.”
“There will be jobs coming to our area, as soon as we work out what the details will be to bring those projects through,” Graham said.
Davis said he “got the ball rolling toward what hopefully will become a university site on the West Side, hopefully in the 29th Ward.”
Click here to watch the debate.
I viewed the debate and thought that Alderwoman Graham did a great job. Congressman Davis is out of touch with working class citizens and is power hungry. He needs to retire.