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Brett Sutton| Reno Gazette Journal

This opinion column was submitted by Brett Sutton, an attorney and mediator whose practice is focused on labor and employment law.

As reported in the Reno Gazette Journal, Attorney General Aaron Ford is refusing to debate his opponent, attorney Sigal Chattah, before the upcoming Nevadageneral election due to a highly offensive and inappropriate private text Chattah reportedly sent a blogger last year ("Ford calls Chattah's comment racist, says he won't debate her," July 31).

Ford has every right to condemn the offensive remark.However, his refusal to debate Chattah is an enormous disservice to Nevada voters and he should immediately reconsider. A debate prior to a general election is not for the benefit of the candidates rather, it is for the benefit of the voters.

The fact that one candidatemade a highly inappropriate and offensive remark is not a justification to deprive the Nevada citizens of a debate between two individuals running for such an important constitutional office. Since the beginning of our nation, public debates have been a critical component of the election process and those who refuse to take part are, in the view of many, proving themselves unqualified to hold an important office.

Rather than refusing to debate, if Ford believes Chattahs comments to be racist as he has publicly alleged he absolutely should debate her openly and expose her as such.It is even more important that he do so, given the serious nature of his accusation and the importance of the position for which both are running.

Furthermore, the mere fact that Chattah made an offensive remark does not excuse Ford from a civil debate that would help all voters to better evaluate his performance as attorney general.

For example, there have been highly publicized media reports about an out-of-state COVID testing company, paid tens of millionsin tax dollars, whose tests reportedly were found by Nevada state scientists to be so inaccurate and unreliable as to be considered catastrophic. The reports, based upon an investigation by the nonprofit journalist group ProPublica, concluded that the company used political connections, including contracting with the sons of a close friend to the governor, to fast-track its state laboratory license application and secure testing agreements … and obtain lucrative contracts for vital COVID testing from Nevada government officials.

As the top law enforcement officer in the state, Ford should be called upon in a debate to publicly explain what, if anything, his office has done to investigate this extremely disturbing report.

Attorney General Fordsactions during the controversial statewide COVID lockdown imposed by Gov.Sisolak also should be an important topic for a debate before the election.Of most importance is the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimous ruling in December 2020 that Gov. Sisolaks emergency actions imposed on houses of worship across Nevada were in clear violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Violating the sacred First Amendment religious rights of their own states citizens is a serious offense for any elected official. Given that Fords office supported and advocated in favor of Gov.Sisolaks unconstitutional conduct in this instance, Ford should be confronted in a public debate to explain his actions and positions in that case.

Many are rightly concerned with what positions Ford might take in the future with regard to the constitutional rights of Nevada citizens and what he will do to protect those rights.

Voters of every party affiliation, and specifically members of the Nevada press, should publicly call upon Ford to fulfill his obligation to the voters of this state by debating his opponent prior to the upcoming general election.

Brett Sutton is an attorney and mediator whose practice is focused on labor and employment law. He is a Nevada Leadership Council member of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and has held leadership positions in variousindustry organizations.

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Aaron Ford's refusal to debate is a disservice to the public - Reno Gazette Journal