East County candidate threatens hunger strike

San Diego Union Tribune (2010-08-11) Michele Clock

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East County candidate threatens hunger strike

BY MICHELE CLOCK, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010 AT 6:23 P.M.

Campaigning for public office can take a lot of personal sacrifice.

One local congressional candidate is threatening to starve in the name of politics. Ray Lutz, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Alpine this November in East County’s 52nd District, said he will forgo breakfasts, lunches and dinners until Hunter agrees to debate him.

Lutz said he will start his hunger strike Thursday at sundown.

“Until Hunter steps up to the plate, I’ll be stepping away from the dinner plate,” Lutz said in a statement. “I hope my sacrifice will make him realize the community expects him to take their issues seriously.”

But Dave Gilliard, Hunter’s campaign consultant, said Hunter does intend to debate his opponent “likely in October when Congress is out of session and voters are focused on elections.”

“It will happen in October,” he said.

Gilliard quipped that the move sounded “like something out of Berkeley not San Diego.”

Lutz responded that he still planned to go forward with the strike until he got a direct response from Hunter or his campaign, after submitting letters to the campaign asking that the first term incumbent engage in debates.

Lutz admitted he wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to last.

“I’m an older guy now, I’m 53,” he said. “I’m not Gandhi, I’m not 33...I’m still a pretty healthy guy and fasting sometimes is good for you. I’ve never done it very long at all, more than a meal. After a meal I’m pretty ready for another meal.”

He won’t be starving in private.

Lutz said he plans to sit in a booth outside of his office in El Cajon and he will blog, tweet and post videos on You Tube about his experience.