Rangra and Lujan debate over debate

Reminiscent of the delays at the Paris Peace Talks of the 1960s between Washington and Hanoi, the proposed debate between Alpine Mayor Avinash Rangra and former City Councilman Carlos Lujan is bogged down in simply setting the terms for the debate.

Last month during an interview with the Gazette, Alpine Mayor Avinash Rangra challenged Lujan to a debate regarding Lujan’s allegations against the mayor. Rangra also challenged former Alpine councilpersons Dianna Asgeirsson and Hugh Johnson to be included in the debate. The trio, led by Lujan, are seeking for a recall election to replace Rangra, based on allegations of a cover up of financial malfeasance and violations of the Texas Open meetings Act.

Earlier this month, Lujan contacted the Gazette and said he would debate Rangra, and asked John Waters of the Gazette to moderate.

When Rangra originally called for a public debate he told the Gazette, “Sure, all three: the more the merrier. But they need to be very specific. I don’t want to sit there and have them ask questions to show my innocence.”

Now, actually getting the parties to agree to a public debate is proving difficult.

Since challenging Lujan to debate, Rangra has set the condition for the face-off that Lujan provide written proof of his allegations before confronting his opponent.

Lujan has yet to provide the proof demanded by Rangra. Lujan contends if he shows his hand to Rangra before the debate, the debate will not happen. Lujan says if Rangra does debate, it will be “political suicide” for the mayor.

So, although the two have agreed in principal to debate, they are failing to agree to even the basic terms of the event.

After months of talks in Paris between Washington and Hanoi during the infamous discussions, the two sides had at least agreed to the shape of the table where the two warring nations would meet. As for the Rangra-Lujan debate, the two local pols are nowhere near that insignificant progress, nor the debate podium.