El Tinklenberg will join candidate Bob Anderson for a forum on economic issues this Saturday. The event, sponsored by the Elk River Citizens’ League and the Elk River Chamber of Commerce, will take place Saturday, September 20 at 11:45 AM at the Elk River City Hall.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will not attend.

Tinklenberg said, “I look forward to talking with folks in Elk River about what we can do to lower the deficit and create new jobs, so we can get our economy moving forward again. But mainly I’ll be there to learn more about what people in Elk River see as our biggest economic challenges.”

Campaign manager Anna Richey said, “We sent Rep. Bachmann an open invitation to debate and did not get a response. Despite attempts from several groups to schedule debates, the Congresswoman has not agreed to any more public forums in her district. It seems she has plenty of time to go on Larry King Live, but not to answer her constituents’ questions.”

So far Bachmann has agreed to only one public forum scheduled for September 29 in Monticello. Bachmann has also agreed to one radio debate on MPR on October 29, from 11:00-11:30 AM.

Tinklenberg spokesman John Wodele said an eleventh-hour radio debate is not a substitute for answering voters’ questions at public forums in the district. “Unless something changes quickly, it appears Rep. Bachmann’s plan is to avoid situations that result in uncontrolled direct contact with voters. This strategy of avoidance is an insult to hardworking Sixth District voters who can't take off work to listen to a radio debate. Bachmann should agree to debate El Tinklenberg in the district on weekends and evenings. Only then can district voters get access to ask questions about the issues that matter to them.”