Doug Ducey skipping gubernatorial candidate town hall on gun violence

PHOENIX – An Arizona gubernatorial candidate town hall on gun violence will apparently have one notable absence: the governor.

All three Democratic gubernatorial candidates and Republican challenger Ken Bennett have confirmed that they will take part in Tuesday night’s event, which was planned by the Arizona chapter of March for Our Lives.

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, however, has not responded to his invitation, the group said in a news release.

In addition to Bennett, Democrats David Garcia, Steve Farley and Kelly Fryer said they would attend.

“These candidates as well as the community know how important it is to end gun violence and the vital role the candidates’ positions will play in this election,” Jacob Martinez, March for Our Lives policy director, said in the release.

On Twitter, Martinez had been calling Ducey out for refusing to meet with the group.

For MONTHS I’ve made attempts to schedule a meeting with Governor @DougDucey, and I’ve been refused and ignored EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. this is ridiculous, if we can’t even get meetings with our elected officials, what else do we have? #DuceyWhereYouAt pic.twitter.com/R0t7uKGDSP

— Jacob Martinez (@JacobDMartinez) August 11, 2018

The town hall was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at Temple Solel in Paradise Valley (6805 E. McDonald Drive).

Tickets for the free event can be reserved online.

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m., and space is limited. Questions can be submitted before the town hall begins, but there will be no open mic for attendees.

March for Our Lives is a student activist group that formed in the wake of the February shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that claimed 17 lives.

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