Jeanette Rishell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Contact: Ilana Kaplan-Shain, 571-208-0394

Delegate Miller Refuses Prince William NAACP Debate

MANASSAS – Yesterday the Jeanette Rishell for Delegate campaign received word from a member of the Prince William County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) that Delegate Jackson Miller has refused to participate in this year's debate. Delegate Miller was contacted several times by the Prince William NAACP in order to schedule a date that worked with his calendar. On the most recent call to the Miller campaign, the NAACP was informed that Delegate Miller would not fit the debate into his schedule and his campaign would not be sending a surrogate.

Every election year the Prince William NAACP hosts one of two opportunities for a debate between local candidates for the House of Delegates. Earlier this year the group hosted a debate between Luke Torian and Mike Hodge, who were contesting the Democratic nomination in the 52nd District.

Upon hearing the news that Delegate Miller would not be participating in the NAACP debate, Rishell responded by saying, “This is an historic organization that everyone in this country respects and I am shocked that Delegate Miller refused.”

Rishell said she will still attend the debate to answer questions from members of the Prince William NAACP. Hosea Mills, a resident of Manassas and a member of the Prince William NAACP said, “I hope Delegate Miller can make time in his schedule to attend the NAACP debate. The members of the organization are looking forward to hearing from both candidates as well as asking how each will address critical issues in our community.”

The debate is scheduled for October 17th at 2 PM in First Baptist Church located at 9528 Center St in Manassas.

The NAACP is attempting to re-schedule the debate, according to Prince William NAACP President Ralph Smith: "To date only the Rishell campaign has responded."

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Update: The News and Messenger covered this story here.

Update #2: Norma Fields provides facts in response to Delegate Miller's fiction.