Wynn's Absence Doesn't Slow Edwards at Debate

The race for the Democratic nomination in Maryland's 4th Congressional District cranked up last week with the first debate of the campaign season.

Sort of.

The Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted the lunchtime candidates forum over sizzling fajitas and plates of enchiladas at Ay! Jalisco Restaurant in Gaithersburg. At a table draped by an American flag sat attorney Donna F. Edwards, who last September came within three percentage points of knocking off Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D). George E. Mitchell, a Prince George's real estate agent also running for the seat, was there, too. Next to Edwards and Mitchell sat . . . Prince George's County Council member William A. Campos?

Noting that Congress had just come back in session, Lori Sherwood, Wynn's campaign manager, said the congressman was eager to debate but was unable to make the midday event and sent Campos (D-Hyattsville), a campaign co-chairman, in his place. Sherwood noted that Wynn has committed to taking part in at least two other debates, Nov. 8 and Jan. 3.

Still, Edwards did her best to capitalize on Wynn's absence in front of what appeared to be a largely friendly crowd. Afterward, she put out a news release claiming he was avoiding the event and said in an interview that she believes her opponent missed a good opportunity to talk to voters face to face about their concerns.

"It's unfortunate that we have passed Labor Day, and the campaign season is on . . . but we get a surrogate," she said.

Sherwood dismissed the criticism. "If he had left the Hill, the criticism would have been that he's not attending to his congressional role," she said.

On the agenda for the debate: immigration reform, small-business development and responsiveness to constituents. Campos did his best to stand in, pointing to Wynn's support for his own election as Prince George's first Latino County Council member as evidence of the congressman's sensitivity to Latino issues. Campos said Wynn has been active in supporting immigrant rights.

But Campos had to acknowledge that he was uncertain of Wynn's position when a chamber member asked about protecting homeowners facing foreclosure. And Campos could say little when chamber Chairwoman Alma E. Preciado rose to say Wynn's office has failed to respond to the chamber's attempts to reach out. Campos said he would relay the members' concerns to Wynn.

Edwards then turned to Campos and, with faux compassion, told him she understood how unfair it was to ask him to respond on Wynn's behalf. "I'm the type of candidate who will travel to every corner of her congressional district and take every question," she told the crowd.

Campos also handed Edwards a moment of spontaneous applause from the crowd when during a discussion of whether a wall should be built along the U.S.-Mexico border, he attempted to lighten the mood with a George Lopez joke.

Campos quipped: Who would build such a wall? Latino construction workers!