Representative Alicea recently addressed allegations made by Republican opponent Ronald Chernisky, who falsely accused Representative Alicea of avoiding a debate with him. The debate, which was scheduled for Monday, August 18th and was to be aired on local cable television, was cancelled last minute when Chernisky decided that he was not pleased with the format of the discussion, despite two weeks of planning. 

“After he spent two weeks dictating and commanding what the format would be, he decided he didn’t like it,” said Representative Alicea. “I didn’t care”.

On the morning of the scheduled debate, Representative Alicea received a call from Southbridge resident Dennis Martinek who had scheduled the event, saying that the debate had been cancelled. Representative Alicea subsequently scheduled a new appointment during that time, and could no longer recommit when Martinek called four hours later. In a recent press release, Chernisky accused Alicea of “avoiding the debate”.

“Frankly, I am shocked that he would even consider putting out a press release on the issue when he is the reason the debate was cancelled in the first place,” said Representative Alicea.

In a recent interview with Southbridge Evening News, Chernisky was asked if Representative Alicea’s account of the events was accurate. “Sort of. Yeah, that’s how it went,” said Chernisky. Moreover, when asked if his press release was disingenuous because he had falsely insinuated that Representative Alicea had backed out of the debate, Chernisky said, “In the press release, I used the words ‘unusual sequence of events’”. In the press release, Chernisky also accused Representative Alicea of “going into hiding” after the debate was cancelled, and called Representative Alicea’s work schedule into question.

“Let me make it clear,” said Representative Alicea. “I am the State Rep. It is my job, every day, to meet with and address the needs of the people of the 6th Worcester district. There is no day off for a State Legislator, and Ron doesn’t seem to understand that. Just because formal session is done, it doesn’t mean that I stop working for my constituents, and I will continue doing the job until I get sworn in again”.