Statement from Philip Foust on His Unanswered Debate Challenge to Ryan Mears

A little over a week ago, I reached out to Ryan Mears to request a series of debates. I requested a response within one week.

I have not heard back from Mears.

The necessity for debates is clear. The Marion County Prosecutor’s race is the single most important decision on the ballot this year for Marion County voters. They deserve every possible opportunity to learn about both candidates.

Crime creates life-altering and, at times, life-ending consequences for law-abiding victims. Beyond the direct victims, unchecked crime in Marion County also victimizes our community. It acts as an anchor holding back prosperity and progress in our capital city, central Indiana, and our entire state. If neighbors don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods, businesses don’t feel safe investing in our capital city, and families don’t feel safe raising their children here, then nothing else matters.

Mears and I have diametrically opposed visions for the future of the prosecutor’s office, our criminal justice system, and our city.

• I am more concerned about victims and public safety than about criminals who prey on society or about chasing ideological trends.
• I understand that public safety requires cooperation with police, surrounding prosecutors, and state officials. Mears has alienated every potential public safety partner.
• I know that we’re in the midst of a violent crisis with our teens who have lost all respect for and fear of the juvenile justice system and have been fed the lie that there are no consequences for their actions.

In the letter, I shared with Mears that this series of debates should include several civic organizations and media outlets to host and broadcast them. With crime being the number one issue on the minds of Marion County voters, I am calling on the media and civic groups to raise awareness of this election and to work with us to host this series of debates.

We are reaching out to several organizations, and we will continue to do so. We have found considerable interest, and I am confident that the interest will grow. However, this would be easier if we had the cooperation of the Mears campaign.

To draw more attention to the request, I am releasing the letter to the media today to make the public aware of this challenge. Voters deserve to know that Mears is ducking and dodging them and is unwilling to defend his record, explain his plans, and fight for their votes.

Ryan Mears has been the Marion County Prosecutor for nearly seven years. He has made consequential decisions on crime, and voters have every right to ask him to defend those decisions publicly.

Lives are at stake. Voters are fed up. Ryan Mears has failed this city, and he is failing to explain himself. We will keep demanding a thorough public discussion. Crime victims, their families, and Marion County voters deserve to hear from both of us.

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