BECK, O’SCANLON & CASAGRANDE CHALLENGE OPPONENTS TO 12 DEBATES

BECK, O’SCANLON & CASAGRANDE CHALLENGE OPPONENTS TO 12 DEBATES 

SAY “12 FOR TWELVE” PLAN CRITICAL IN AN ELECTION YEARSURE TO BE MARRED BY NEGATIVITY 

Red Bank, NJ- 12th District legislative candidates Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande today sent a letter to their Democratic opponents, calling on them to participate in a series of public debates that will cover each section of the district during the last 3 months before Election Day.

“This fall’s election will be a referendum on how the people feel their legislators represent their interests in Trenton,” said Assemblywoman Beck, a candidate for State Senate. “Public debates give the people of District 12 a great opportunity to listen to their representatives talk about the work they’ve done in the Legislature and how candidates plan on addressing important state issues in the future.”

Beck noted that since she, O’Scanlon and Casagrande want to give all residents of District 12 the opportunity to hear all of the candidates’ ideas, they are proposing a “12 for Twelve” plan made up of 12 debates that will span the district. Under their plan, seven towns (Colts Neck, Englishtown, Manalapan, Marlboro, Millstone, Oceanport and Tinton Falls) will each play host to a debate, while debates will be combined in Freehold Township and Borough, Hightstown and East Windsor, Shrewsbury Township and Borough, and Fair Haven, Red Bank and Little Silver.

O’Scanlon said that in an election that is sure to be dominated by negativity, it is important to hear the candidates speak for themselves on matters facing the state. “Two years ago in this district, the Democrats spent almost $1.5 million on untrue negative mailings and commercials,” said O’Scanlon. “I’m sure this year the grand total will be much more, and I’ll bet that their campaign won’t be about Ellen Karcher and Mike Panter’s voting records or Amy Mallet’s ideas for the future. That’s why it’s more important than ever to hear what the candidates have to say straight from the horse’s mouth.” 

Casagrande noted that although District 12 was not chosen as a Clean Elections district, the campaigns should still follow the spirit of the law and participate in interactive debates, as the legislation mandates.

“Although it was unfortunate that our opponents chose not to lobby their Democratic leadership hard enough to be chosen as a Clean Elections district, my running mates and I still enthusiastically believe that our campaigns should participate in these debates,” said Casagrande. “Voters have a right to meet the people who want their votes. Personally, not only as a candidate but also as a taxpayer and constituent, I’m anxious to hear why our opponents have voted over the last 4 years to dramatically increase spending, flat fund education and raise property taxes.”

“We hope that our opponents will be more responsive than they were in 2005 when they ignored our proposals for debates for months, before finally agreeing to participate in only one,” said Beck. “My running mates and I are looking forward to discussing our ideas to enact real ethics reform, spending cuts and fiscal restraint, and we can’t wait to hear why our opponents have refused to do so during the past 4 years.”

A copy of the letter is attached.

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Dear Senator Karcher, Assemblyman Panter and Mrs. Mallet:

As you know, the New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project mandates that certified candidates participate in at least two interactive debates in order to engage and educate as many voters as possible.

Therefore, in the spirit of the Clean Elections Project, we are asking that you, as candidates for the Legislature in the 12th District, join us in participating in a series of interactive debates that will allow us to meet with voters from all parts of our district.

Notwithstanding the disappointing fact that we were not deemed a Clean Elections district despite our best efforts to encourage the selection committee that our district was most ideal for the pilot project, we still strongly believe in the mission and goals of the project. Therefore, we are asking that you take part with us in debates that would have been required of us if we were allowed to participate in the program.  

Despite the fact that the citizens of our district will soon be bombarded by campaign mail pieces and television advertisements, we still believe that voters should have the opportunity to listen to our ideas and visions for New Jersey directly from us. That is why we believe it is important to participate in as many debates as possible around the district, so that each voter has an opportunity to hear and be heard. Therefore, we are proposing a “12 for Twelve” plan that is made up of 12 debates that will span the district. Under our plan, seven towns will each play host to a debate (Colts Neck, Englishtown, Manalapan, Marlboro, Millstone, Oceanport and Tinton Falls), while debates will be combined for geographical reasons in Freehold Township and Borough, Hightstown and East Windsor, Shrewsbury Township and Borough, and Fair Haven, Red Bank and Little Silver.

We are confident that you agree that it is more important than ever to reach out to as many people as possible during this election. Therefore, we are hopeful that you will agree to participate in each of these proposed 12 debates.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your immediate and favorable response in this matter.  

Sincerely,

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck

Declan O’Scanlon       

Caroline Casagrande