FRANKLIN—Dr. Wynne LeGrow, the Democrat vying to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes in the 4th Congressional District, says Forbes is refusing to debate him ahead of the Nov. 2 election.

“I believe it is the duty of anyone running for public office to appear in a public debate with their opponent,” LeGrow said in a news release. “Sadly, I’m not surprised that Mr. Forbes has so little confidence in his record and platform.”

The South Hampton Roads and Virginia Peninsula chapters of the League of Women Voters planned to sponsor debates for the candidates in Virginia’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th congressional districts.

“The only one that we couldn’t get a confirmation for was Congressman Forbes,” said Carole Garrison of the Virginia Peninsula League of Women Voters. “Since we couldn’t get a confirmation from anyone we had talked to in the campaign, we just had to cancel.”

She said the organization wouldn’t hold a debate if only one candidate agrees to appear as a matter of policy.

“We don’t want to give just one side,” Garrison said.

A spokeswoman for Forbes said Tuesday she had to speak with the congressman before commenting on the issue. Subsequent attempts to reach her for comment on Wednesday and Thursday were unsuccessful.

The 4th District stretches from Powhatan County, located west of Richmond, to Chesapeake. It includes Franklin and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties.