(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Bob Bischoff and Jud McMillin are at odds over whether Bischoff was actually invited to participate in a series of town halls before the Nov. 2 election.

A longtime incumbent representing Indiana House District 68 Bischoff (D-Greendale) is being challenged by the Republican and Franklin County attorney Jud McMillin for the second consecutive general election. Bischoff escaped with a narrow win by less than 500 votes.

On Sunday, McMillin’s campaign issued a press release stating the two candidates had been invited by the Franklin County Tea Party to participate in five town hall forums across the district in October.

Bischoff took a shot at his opponent’s announcement Monday.

“The Franklin County Tea Party only contacted my campaign Sunday about one potential meeting date so I’m amazed there was a press release issued Saturday by Jud McMillin about five more potential meetings,” Bischoff said in a release of his own.

“It is patently untrue that we have agreed to five more meetings of Mr. McMillin’s time and choosing. This is another instance of the Jud McMillin campaign exaggerating the facts and missing the point. He seems to want a pulpit to talk more about himself and what he wants. I’ll be spending my time talking to the people in my district at their doors and on their phones about what they want, not what I want,” said Bischoff.

Bischoff said he and McMillin have had four meetings in three different counties with four more on the schedule before Nov. 2.

McMillin told Eagle 99.3 Monday that Bischoff had failed to respond to an invitation to the town hall meetings sent to Bischoff’s statehouse e-mail several weeks ago. Franklin County Tea Party organizer Fred Bauer agreed, saying he had attempted to contact Bischoff by e-mail, phone, and certified mail.

Bischoff said he could not respond to the invitation using his state e-mail account due to laws restricting the use of state-provided e-mail for campaign business.

McMillin said his campaign had waited to send Sunday’s press release until the last moment while waiting on a response from Bischoff.

“The press release only says invited… …There couldn’t be any more of a public invitation. If he doesn’t want to be there that’s his prerogative,” said McMillin, adding that Bischoff’s campaign did not provide a response to the Franklin County Tea Party.

McMillin acknowledged the past town halls both candidates have attended and the four more upcoming.

“We still haven’t had enough in my opinion,” he said.

Bischoff listed the four town halls to come which he plans to be at:

-Tues. Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m.at the Hoosier Theatre in Vevay sponsored by the Switzerland County Farm Bureau.

-Wed. Oct. 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Ohio County Heritage Hall sponsored by Historic Downtown Rising Sun.

-Tues. Oct. 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dearborn Adult Center in Lawrenceburg sponsored by the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce.

-Mon. Oct. 25 at 7:00 p.m. at South Ripley Elementary School in Versailles sponsored by the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce.

Bischoff said he will not attend the town halls announced in McMillin’s news release.

“I’m happy to meet in the upcoming town halls previously scheduled but I am not planning on attending events that have never been confirmed by me and only been presented to me by the organizers after my opponent issues a press release about them,” said Bischoff.

Those dates planned by the Franklin County Tea Party announced by McMillin at which Bischoff will not appear include:

-October 12, 7:00 p.m. Senior Center, Vevay, Ind. 

-October 16, 7:00 p.m. Dearborn Adult Center, Lawrenceburg, Ind. 

-October 20, 7:00 p.m. The Reservation Restaurant, Milan, Ind.

-October 26, 7:00 p.m. Oak Forest Church of Christ, Brookville, Ind.

-October 27, 7:00 p.m. Rising Sun Senior Center, Rising Sun, Ind.