Spirited Debate Inside as Spooky Parade Passed Outside

COURT HOUSE — Outside the Historic Courthouse passed ghouls and goblins in Middle Township’s Halloween parade, Wed., Oct. 26. Inside, political spirits filled the packed room where trios of Republicans and Democrats vying for First District Legislative posts verbally sparred, sometimes in testy tones over questions asked by the public and themselves.
The candidates’ forum, moderated by the League of Women Voters of Cape May County was the most heated in recent history. At times candidates faced each other and disregarded time limits wanting to get the last word on their opponent. They cited campaign literature that, they claimed, was false or contained lies about them.
Incumbent Democrat Sen. Jeff Van Drew sat with Republican challenger David DeWeese at his right hand. To the senator’s left were Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam.
To DeWeese’s right were teammates seeking Assembly seats, Suzanne Walters and Samuel Fiocchi Sr. Among the crowd were DeWeese’s wife, Michelle, daughter, Jennifer, and “my son, the newest U.S. Marine” attired in dress uniform. Three other children had “school obligations,” he said.
While members smiled and shook hands at the outset, at the end, they went their separate ways.
DeWeese’s opening statement focused on what, he said, the election was about, “Change. It is in your control to change our government.” He continued the last decade, under Democratic leadership, “have not provided the residents of the First District with needed results.”
“Are you happy with your taxes? Are you happy with the unemployment rate in the district? Are you happy with out of control spending in the N.J. Legislature?” DeWeese asked.
Van Drew said, “New Jersey, South Jersey is looking for leadership, hard work, bipartisanship, Republicans and Democrats working together…They are looking for people who are honest and tell the truth.
“I’ve worked hard for a lot of years. I take this seriously,” Van Drew added. “It’s about less negativity. Shoulder to shoulder, we are working together to make the real changes you all deserve,” he added.
Milam said an Assemblyman’s job is a part-time one, “Not a day goes by when it is not on my mind. I look forward to being reelected. There are many many more things to do,” he added. Continuing in a bipartisan manner, Milam said, “We set a precedent for the rest of the U.S.A. I’m very, very glad we are the ones to set the stage for the rest of the U.S.A.,”
Albano cited his six years in the Assembly, working for “seniors, veterans, children, education and working families.” “Over the past six months, my opponents have distorted the truth and on a couple of occasions told outright, blatant lies to destroy my credibility and hard work. I’m looking forward to this debate.”
Walters cited her 15 years as Stone Harbor’s mayor and 11 years prior to that on the school board. She is “active in the N.J. Conference of Mayors, and president in 2002.” “As mayor of a small town, I get out and am active across the state. I am constantly meeting mayors from across the state.” The 2 percent budget cap has not given towns the tools they need, and, as a result, “we saw layoffs of police and firemen. We should be getting better leadership in Trenton.”
She also noted in the state’s 300-year history, “There has never been a woman to represent the First Legislative District,” but she urged not to send her there only because she is a woman, ‘But because I am a competent woman.”
After answering the first question about the pension and health care reform vote, Van Drew said it was done in a “bipartisan way. All Republicans voted for it and a number of Democrats did, I was one…If we didn’t do it, the pension system would have collapsed. For the first time in recent history, we made some really difficult decisions.”
DeWeese countered it was in “the Democrat controlled Legislature which under funded the pension system and borrowed from the system” then gave municipalities a “vacation” from paying into that pension system. He blamed Democrats for putting the pensions “in a crisis situation.” He added such benefits should be done through collective bargaining, not legislated.
“I think you’re reading bullet points,” said VanDrew. “Remember Christine Whitman and McGreevy?” he asked. “Let’s stop the nonsense saying everything Democrats do is bad and everything Republicans do is good. You (DeWeese) put a press release out when Hurricane Irene was coming as if I was partially to blame. We have to cure the problem together, that’s what the state and country are looking for, not fall into this trap of blaming one side all the time.”
When a question focused on economic development in the district, Walters said, “I agree. There is not going to be any investment in New Jersey until there is belief in New Jersey. They (businesses) will not come to New Jersey until they know it is a stable state in which business can flourish. Look at the taxes we put in place, make sure these will grow our jobs.”
“I guess the Democrats and Corzine are responsible for the economic downfall,” replied Albano. “We need to bring industry to this county with decent benefits and health care.” He cited a bill the trio is working on “Job Creation Initiative Bill” that would give tax credits to corporations that come into the state and take over vacant buildings. What we need to do is create jobs,” Albano added.
Uncontested Republican candidates for freeholder Kristine Gabor and Will Morey and unopposed Sheriff Gary Schaffer all briefly addressed the forum prior to the six-way debate by the legislative candidates.