Democratic candidate Tom Melville is calling on state Representative Marcus Vaughn to take part in six public debates, one in each of the six towns that make up the 9th Norfolk District: Norfolk, Wrentham, Plainville, Medfield, Millis and Walpole.

According to Melville's campaign, Vaughn has neither accepted nor declined the challenge. The Norfolk Wrentham News contacted the Vaughn campaign by phone and email seeking comment for this story but did not receive a response as of this writing.

In an email exchange, Melville says the debates should be "substantive and respectful" and should give voters a chance to compare the candidates' "records, priorities, and plans for representing the district on Beacon Hill."

According to the Melville campaign, the two candidates first discussed a debate on August 12 at a community event in Plainville. Melville's campaign says Vaughn verbally agreed to debate and the two exchanged phone numbers. The campaign says Melville left a message on that number on September 8 and followed up in person at Wrentham Day on September 12, where Vaughn told Melville he "hasn't had the time" to respond to the challenge.

With weeks remaining before the November 3 election and no word from Vaughn's campaign, Melville has begun scheduling "Public Forums," with the first scheduled in late September in Wrentham and the second scheduled for October 2 at the Norfolk Public Library.

Vaughn's pitch to voters

As the Vaughn campaign has not responded to our requests for comment we have turned to his campaign website to learn of his case for re-election.

"My name is Marcus Vaughn, and I am proud to represent the people of the 9th Norfolk district on Beacon Hill," he writes. "I know that in order for Massachusetts to continue to succeed, we need to work together toward that goal. I continue to have the desire, experience, and mindset to help people, serve my community, and get things done."

Vaughn describes himself as coming from "humble beginnings" and the first in his family to attend college. He earned a full athletic scholarship to Syracuse University and later an M.B.A. from California State University-Monterey Bay. He settled in his wife's hometown of Wrentham, where they raised a family and started a business. He writes that he has worked since age ten, starting at his grandfather's barbershop.

His campaign lists eight priorities for a new term: making Massachusetts more affordable, lowering energy costs, expanding affordable housing "without one-size-fits-all mandates," growing jobs and small businesses, increasing local aid while reducing unfunded mandates, strengthening public safety, improving legislative accountability and transparency, and protecting constitutional and individual rights. On local aid, he writes that "when Beacon Hill imposes a mandate, it should identify how municipalities are expected to pay for it."

On accessibility, Vaughn writes, "My door will always be open, and I will be completely transparent," and says he plans to canvass door to door and hold house parties and public forums, in person and over Zoom, in the coming months.

Melville's pitch to voters

In a press release, Melville has made accessibility and transparency central themes of his campaign. He has pledged weekly office hours rotating through the district and monthly reports to residents on each vote he takes. He has also said he supports an audit of the Legislature and stronger public records and open meetings laws.

"There's a dwindling number of weeks left until the election," Melville wrote in an email. "As a career journalist, I believe deeply in the importance of giving voters access to information about the people asking to represent them. At a time when many communities have fewer local news resources covering their elections and local government, it is even more important that candidates make themselves available, answer questions, and give voters a clear understanding of where they stand."

Before entering politics, Melville served in the Peace Corps and worked as a journalist after graduating from Boston University and Boston College Law School.

"I have spent my career in journalism holding the powerful accountable. I will do the same in the legislature," Melville wrote. "And this change I promise: The towns of Wrentham, Norfolk, Plainville, Medfield, Millis and Walpole will have a fulltime state representative, fighting - with civility - for them. Fighting for all of our residents, no matter their party."

For more information, visit the campaign websites: Vaughn (https://repvaughn.com/) and Melville (https://www.electmelville.com/).