Patricia R Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan will sit down by himself for the Daily Freeman on Oct. 21, as Republican Colin Schmitt has refused to participate in the candidate forum the new 18th Congressional District seat. Ryan, a Democrat and former Ulster County executive, currently represents the 19th Congressional district, after defeating Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro in an August special election. Ryan agreed to the Daily Freeman's request to participate, while Taylor Weyeneth, Schmitt’s campaign manager, declined several invitations by the Freeman. “Assemblyman Schmitt is committed to making sure that voters in every county in NY-18 have an opportunity to attend a candidate debate this fall,” Weyeneth said in a Sept. 24 email not accepting the invitation for this opportunity to debate. Schmitt did participate in a similar event with Ryan Sept. 27 sponsored by the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. Anyone who wants to submit questions for Ryan for the event, should send them to pdoxsey@freemanonline.com before Oct. 19. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.