Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has declined an invitation to participate in a major televised mayoral debate.
Local political commentator Pat O’Melia, who organized the event and scheduled it for April 1, said that Healy Campaign Manager Bud Demellier wrote him a letter turning down his invitation because “the Mayor will give first priority to attending debates that are sponsored by respected, fair and unbiased organizations that reach a broad audience.”
All four of the city’s other mayoral candidates will participate in the debate at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre, which will be televised multiple times on Comcast. It is going to be hosted by O’Melia and moderated by the Jersey Journal’s Agustin Torres and Earl Morgan, and the Jersey City Reporter’s Ricardo Kaulessar.
O’Melia, who hosts a leased access television show called “The Weekly Show” as well as a radio show, said that he wants to know which of the moderators the Mayor considers unfair, biased and not respected.
“We need to find out who gets the badge of honor, who Healy hates the most. Is it me, Augie or Earl? We know it’s not Ricardo. Everybody loves Ricardo,” he said.
Demellier preferred not to get specific.
“They don’t fit that definition,” he said.
Healy is running for his second full term against former Assemblyman Louis Manzo, who has run for mayor four times before; Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, who used to be City Council President and ran against Healy in 2004; Dan Levin, a community activist; and Phil Webb, a former detective.
Healy participated in the same debate for the 2004 special election and 2005 full-term election, but has had a tense relationship with the local daily paper throughout his incumbency. O'Melia said that he goes back 30 years with Healy and considers him a friend, although he has been especially critical of him on his television show over the past year (his Web site links to Manzo's campaign Web site).
Demellier said that the Mayor has agreed to participate in three debates, all put on by community organizations -- a local chapter of the AARP, The Heights Coalition and the Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations -- and that he may agree to more, schedule permitting.
“We get numerous requests for debates. If we went to every one, we’d be out almost every night and weekend," said DeMellier. “It’s big, but big doesn’t mean anything... We’re interested in people who are interested in the issues and not the personalities."
DeMellier said that the Mayor does not want to take part in a corporate-sponsored debate (O’Melia runs a company called Hudson Media Group, LLC).
“It is being sponsored by a company. It’s a limited partnership,” said Demellier.
Manzo, for his part, said that the mayor is “cheating the people of Jersey City” because none of the other debates are televised.
“If he wants to defend his administration, he has that obligation,” he said. “This is the one debate that most residents who can’t get out to a town hall debate can watch on TV. So I hope he reconsiders.”
O'Melia said that the debate will go on with or without Healy, and that if Healy does not change his mind there will be an empty dais with his name on it.
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...
“We will work harder and smarter to protect consumers, to preserve civil rights, to effectively regulate the alcoholic beverage industry, to ensure that the integrity of New Jersey’s casino gaming industry continues, to keep drives, passengers and pedestrians safe on our streets, to assist victims of crimes, and to remember always the importance of juvenile justice on issues affecting the state." -- Attorney General-designate Paula Dow, at her Senate confirmation hearing.
- PolitickerNJ.com, 02/08/10Press releases are submitted by PolitickerNJ users, not by staff. They do not represent the viewpoint of PolitickerNJ.com.
call a rag a rag
about time someone holds augie accountable for the crap he puts out. if the other candidates followed suit, maybe his bosses would make him go back and retake journalism 101.
What's wrong with Auggie?
What's wrong with Auggie? 90% of the crap he puts out is true. Critical, but very true.
No credibility at all
O'Melia is a wind bag of enormous proportions being a legend in his own mind.
Fat Pat's website "Hudson Media Group, LLC" even has a link to Manzo's website. Go figure.
Pretty soon Auggie Torres will be walking the unemployment line as the Jersey Journal is threatening to close. Auggie makes one of the largest salaries and targeted to go first.
These two clowns are bought and paid for by Looney Lou Manzo, four time Jersey City Mayoral loser.
I'm going with Augie
If Healy walked on water, Augie's headline would be "Healy Can't Swim".
Why sign up for the abuse?
LIttle Pink Elephants
The reason Healy doesn't want to participate in a televised debate or forum is because he doesn't want anyone to know how badly he speaks or how badly his hands shake.
I was at a forum and it was an embarrassing sight to see. Hands shaking, hair a mess, no ideas or solutions only justifying himself and getting louder and more belligerent as the night went on.
Taxes up, crime up, streets filthy and he thinks he's the right guy to lead the city forward.
This is a guy who is insulin dependent AND an alcoholic.
A legend in his own mind.
Healy's absence from a voter's point of view
Healy's absence at this debate gave the other four candidates a "free shot" at my vote. Before the debate I had given the edge to Healy because I see increased police presence in my neighborhood, public works appear to be happening (water pipes are being cleaned) and he recieved $2million+ of the stimulus package for Jersey City. BUT my taxes have increased EXPONENTIALY and I oppose 20 year tax abatements. So, I really needed to hear from Healy how he intended to move JC forward. After the debate, I am undecided. Two candidates made good impressions on me for different reasons: Manzo and Webb. I reject Healy's reason for failing to attend the debate- and feel slighted as a voter. Life happens in opposition. My mayor has to be able to defend his positions. Debate is the life blood of poiltics. Declining to attend a "biased" forum is ridiculous. Healy's presence there is for the public- he must trust that the public has a discerning ear. It is not advisable to believe polls either. Because polls don't dictate how I vote: positions and ideas do.
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