Buyer, Ackerson Debate Gets Heated In End

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(DANVILLE) - The Hendricks County Farm Bureau congressional debate went off with a few small hitches last night.

Republican Congressman Steve Buyer and Democratic challenger Nels Ackerson took to the stage and discussed the issues before Indiana's 4th Congressional District, but, apparently, things got a very hot at the end.

"It got very heated in the end over an issue, I think, was not really an issue," Ackerson told moderator Dave Russell. "Apparently when I mentioned his absences and missed votes in Congress, he didn't know this, I was referring to his entire career, in which he has missed more votes than anyone else in the entire Indiana delegation."

The controversy revolved around Ackerson criticizing Buyer's seeming lack of attendance over his 16 year career, however, Buyer seemed to have misunderstood the criticism as being for this year, where he has had family health problems to manage.

Additionally, Buyer said this may be the last debate because, depending on who he spoke to, either because he's pressed for time, or because Ackerson broke a rule. However, when pressed on the rule, he wouldn't respond.

"No, we'll let Hendricks County Farm Bureau tell you," Buyer told a reporter covering the event. "It's a fascinating thing to see...it kind of reminded me of my days as a prosecutor and also when I was a defense lawyer, where you see the individual who breaks the rule and then plays the victim. And that's what he tried to do."

The Farm Bureau's Dave Wyeth told Brownfield Reporter and debate moderator Dave Russell that he didn't know what rule Buyer was alluding to, but thought it may have involved Ackerson inviting people to a member's only event.

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