As their campaigns near the end, Troy Balderson and Danny O’Connor crossed paths Thursday afternoon during a community forum in Westerville where senior care was at the center of discussion.

Seeing Balderson and O’Connor in the same venue has been a rare occasion ever since the August special election in which Balderson won a tight race for U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 12th Congressional District.

And while neither opponent actually addressed the senior citizens at Inniswood Village at the same time, they did agree to answer some of the same, predetermined questions.

The press was originally told they could cover the forum leading up to the event, but reporters were turned away at the door.

However, both Balderson and O’Connor did take the time to address media waiting outside the facility.

Before entering the building for his turn at the floor, O’Connor gave a preview of the message he’d be sharing with the folks waiting for him indoors.

“There is such a difference between me and Troy Balderson,” said O’Connor. “He supports kicking people off their health care if they have pre-existing conditions. He supports cutting Medicare and Social Security and raising the retirement age. These are things I’ll fight against steadfastly.”

But when Balderson later met with reporters inside a conference room, his sentiments regarding Medicare and Social Security were in line with O’Connor’s own.

“The issues today were housing for seniors, obviously making sure that we hold Medicare and Social Security and keep fighting for that to keep funding for it, and that is important, and I will continue to do that,” said Balderson.

Balderson, who was recently sworn into office last month, hasn’t had much time to do any fighting for any issue since he’s only just getting his foot in the door at the nation’s capital.

However, Balderson said he is making some progress. Recently, Balderson determined his official staff, naming his Chief of Staff, Terry Geiger.

“I think that one of the important things for me is, is that my Chief of Staff will be based here in the district,” said Balderson.

Geiger previously served as State Director for Rob Portman, making her familiar with the 12th Congressional District, Balderson said.

During his 12 days spent in D.C. thus far, Balderson said he is beginning to seek other representatives with similar backgrounds to work with in the future.

Also representing central Ohio is Joyce Beatty, who Balderson said will be his partner in congress.

When he’s not in D.C., Balderson said he is touring his district in Ohio, getting to know better the people he represents.

As Balderson has been transitioning into his new role as a congressman, O’Connor has continued his fight for that seat and isn’t pleased with the decisions Balderson has made so far.

“Since he’s been in congress, he’s voted a couple times to extend the tax giveaway,” said O’Connor. “There’s a reason, you know, he’s ‘big spending Balderson.’ He hasn’t met a deficit increase that he doesn’t like. When we have a national debt that is as high as it is, and we have folks like Troy Balderson who continue to spend us further and further into debt, it’s a problem, and it’s something we need to fight back against.”

Despite O’Connor’s view on Balderson’s actions in congress, the two have not had the chance to go head-to-head in any form of debate since Balderson took office in early September.

“We know why Troy Balderson doesn’t want to debate,” said O’Connor. “It’s because he doesn’t want to have to answer for positions like taking healthcare away from folks with pre-existing conditions, like tax giveaways that are permanent for corporations, like raising the retirement age, and that comparison is something that he probably doesn’t want to make.”

But to Balderson, the ultimate debate has already been decided, and now it’s time to get on with the job.

“We’ve done debates. We have done public forums. Danny and I have done a lot of work prior to the special election, and there’s nothing changed,” said Balderson. “I had a really big debate Aug. 7, and I won that debate, and I think that’s important. We have been out there, and I’m going and I’m seeing the people of the 12th Congressional District.”

Balderson said his tour of the 12th Congressional District is what caused him to miss a scheduled forum earlier in the week, to which O’Connor used as fuel in his race for his opponent’s seat.

“These offices belong to the people that make up the districts, and in order to be accountable to the people, you have to actually be present,” said O’Connor. “And for Troy Balderson to not show up to that event is a snub, and it’s problematic.”

But Balderson said he is representing his district and not taking the job lightly.

“Look, I’m working. I’m getting out in the district. I’m not going home and putting my feet up. I am working. I’m working very, very hard,” said Balderson. “This is my life. This is what I do, and I’m fortunate to have the time and the availability to do this, and I’m going to give it everything I have or I wouldn’t have signed up to do this.”

Whether or not Balderson’s time as a congressman is extended will be determined on Nov. 6, and O’Connor is hoping for a different outcome now that university students have returned to school.

This time around, O’Connor spent much of his campaign on college campuses.

“There are so many young people who are engaged in this race, who want to have their voices heard,” said O’Connor. “They weren’t really able to vote in a lot of cases in August because they weren’t on campus. They’re back now.”

Regardless of who their vote, or anyone’s, goes to, no one can be elected unless voters make their mark on the ballot.

“Our democracy is about participation,” said O’Connor. “You can’t sit on the sidelines. You gotta make your voice heard, and this is a country worth fighting for.”