Boswell refuses to debate challenger

DES MOINES — With the primary election less than a month away, it appears voters in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District won’t get a chance to measure the candidates side-by-side in a debate.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell so far has refused to agree to debates with challenger Ed Fallon, citing scheduling conflicts.

Fallon, a former state representative, said he has accepted invitations to 10 debates, including one sponsored by KCCI-TV and the Des Moines Register. Fallon said it is “somewhat unprecedented” for a congressman to decline all debates.

“Boswell does not want to have an open discussion of the issues, because voters, especially Democratic primary voters, are clearly much more in my camp on the issues,” Fallon said.

— Charlotte Eby