Congressional candidate Dan Franzese told U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel to do her job. She laughed.

PALM BEACH — Two congressional candidates, a longtime congresswoman and a longtime businessman, faced each other Tuesday morning for the first time in this election.

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel couldn't help but laugh.

The brief but flinty encounter took place at a candidate forum hosted by the Palm Beach Civic Association. The format wasn't a debate, but a sort of speed campaigning program where each candidate got three minutes to explain their priorities, experiences and policy positions.

Participants included Republican state Rep. Mike Caruso and Democratic state Sen. Bobby Powell. Candidates Blair Ciklin and Roderick Clarke for less well-known posts, like the Port of Palm Beach, also attended.

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Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link talked about voting guidelines. Palm Beach County Director of Governmental Affairs Ed Chase spoke on on ballot measures.

But it was the congressional District 22 candidates, Democrat Frankel and Republican Dan Franzese, who stood out.

Frankel has nearly been in Congress for a decade, and she has been a notable advocate for abortion rights, gun control legislation, climate change efforts and veterans affairs. She spent her three minutes talking about her platform and speaking directly to constituents.

Franzese, a New York native and Wharton College graduate, has been in Florida for the past 10 years. He spent about the first two minutes talking about how his experience in business can help bring solutions for the shambling economy.

But the rest was directed toward Frankel.

"Do your job," Franzese said to Frankel. She chuckled.

Franzese went on to accuse Frankel of creating campaign advertisements falsely portraying his position on abortion as wanting a national ban, and he said he seeks to keep abortion reserved to the states.

Afterward, Frankel said she doesn't feel like she needs to attack an opponent in a speech in which she is focused on talking to constituents.

"I thought he was a little mean-spirited, but I'm not going to play that game," Frankel said.

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Franzese then tried to hand Frankel a letter in which he directly to Frankel to challenged her to a debate and to tell her to "immediately remove your ads making these false claims," according to the letter.

Frankel declined to accept the note.

Frankel has kept hold of this notably blue district that lists former President Donald Trump as a constituent. About 58% of voters in the district supported current President Joe Biden and 40% supported Trump in 2020.

Frankel went into the primaries unopposed. Franzese won his primary by 130 votes against Deborah Adeimy.

Stephany Matat is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at smatat@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Democrat Lois Frankel, GOP Dan Franzese swap barbs at candidate forum