U.S. Congressman Cliff Stearns and his Democratic opponent still have not met.
That hasn't stopped Tim Cunha of Ocala from challenging Stearns' tactics and policies in the race for a seat in House of Representatives.
Stearns, who currently represents Florida's Sixth District, has sent surrogates or failed to appear at recent candidate forums, Cunha said Monday.
"I think he's afraid," Cunha said. "He's hoping people will forget that they've been fed up with him."
John Konkus, Stearns' district director, said the candidate was unable to attend a meeting held by the League of Women Voters on Oct. 4 because he was dealing with the bailout bill.
At a second forum Friday at The Village in Gainesville, Konkus stood in for Stearns and raised questions about Cunha's ability to handle the financial crisis because of his personal financial problems.
"Mr. Cunha fell into financial troubles for 10 years before he recently moved to Florida," Konkus later said. "Mr. Cunha publicly admitted that he declared bankruptcy while he lived in New Jersey."
Konkus said Stearns has a successful business history in Gainesville and Ocala and received an A-plus rating from the National Taxpayers Union for his work in Congress to cut taxes and control federal spending.
Cunha said he hopes to debate Stearns himself to challenge him on issues, such as the economy, education and a pledge to serve no more than six terms.
He said Stearns, who has been in the House for 20 years, has had a term that has lasted eight years too long.
Cunha also raised questions about Stearns' campaign tactics, including the validity of a mail-out sent shortly before the 90-day period banning official mail-outs before an election. Cunha said he thought the mail-out had been paid for using taxpayer dollars.
"It was within the letter of the law, but not in the spirit of the law," Cunha said.
Cunha will face Stearns on the Nov. 4 ballot.
