Ellis Parrott has refused to debate Will McVay before their Republican Primary Sept. 11 because of McVays remaining, strong ties to the Libertarian Party.

Parrott sent an Aug. 15 letter to Kent County Republican Party Chairman Hans Reigle to explain why he declined an invitation to participate in a candidate debate to be held by the Kent County Young Republicans. In that letter, Parrott expressed concern that McVay had changed his party registration seven times between January 2010 and May 2012, including a switch from Libertarian to Republican on Jan. 11, 2010 and again on May 25.

He paid the fee as a candidate, Parrott told the Dover Post. That doesnt make him a legitimate candidate. I have no problem debating any legitimate candidate.

Parrott said he would debate McVay if he had run as a Libertarian candidate and his Democratic opponent had agreed to these terms.

The winner between Parrott and McVay will face the winner of the Democratic primary William McGlumphy and Andria Bennett.

The problem is, where do you draw the line if you allow a Libertarian to debate? Parrott said. You have two major parties in this state. Do you allow the other minor parties to debate as well? Nationally, there is the same question.

Ive never had an fear of debating anybody, he added. I was a judge for 25 years. So, I think Im quite capable of debating anyone.

McVay had announced his immediate resignation as vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Delaware in a mass email sent back on Aug. 8. He called Parrotts reasoning for refusing to debate him a pretty convenient excuse.

If Im such a Libertarian, then I should be a pretty easy debate and he should basically shame me out of the race, McVay said.

Meanwhile, Reigle still questioned McVays allegiances in an Aug. 23 email. Namely, Reigle and Parrott had learned from the Delaware Department of Elections for Kent Couny that on Aug. 14 two Libertarians running against other Kent County Republicans had submitted election paperwork signed by McVay in his capacity as chairman of the Kent County Libertarian Party.

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Parrott questions McVay’s Republicanism given strong Libertarian ties