Subbing for Daggett in FDU poll, Steele slams Daggett's property tax relief plan
Independent gubernatorial candidate Gary Steele, at 12% statewide in a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll against Jon Corzine and Chris Christie, says he would have won last week's gubernatorial debate, if he had been allowed to participate

Subbing for Daggett in FDU poll, Steele slams Daggett's property tax relief plan

By Max Pizarro | October 6th, 2009 - 12:02pm
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Relishing a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll this morning that shows him at 12% when Chris Daggett's name is removed from a sample ballot and substituted with the name of another independent, indie candidate Gary Steele took the swap-in free advert as a boost to his long-long-long-shot campaign for governor.

But he's still irritated that he couldn't participate in last week's debate among Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine, Republican Chris Christie and fellow independent Daggett. Unlike Steele, Daggett raised enough money to qualify for state matching funds and a platform at last week's NJN debate moderated by anchor Jim Hooker, according to the provisions of the state Elections Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

"I only caught the first half of the debate because I had to go coach a hockey game," said Steele, a Kinnelon attorney. "I couldn't help but think, as I watched, that if I was there I would have killed those guys. I'm very disappointed I wasn't there. I'm a trial lawyer. They wouldn't have had a chance."

Steele didn't think either Christie or Corzine shut down Daggett, which he said he would have done had he participated.

"You can't raise taxes to lower other taxes," the candidate griped, referring to Daggett's plan to lower property taxes by 25% by broadening application of the 7% sales tax. "That's what New Jersey's been doing since 1976. Daggett at least got the conversation started."

Steele maintains he would have finished the conversation.

"My property tax plan reallocates $9 billion state aid, 50% of which now goes to the cities while all the other towns are left to fight over what's left," said Steele. "Did you know that Newark has more ratables than any other town? For them to get a billion dollars a year to run that city is not fair." 

Steele said he would work to make deep cuts to county government.

The candidate last night received commitments from seven other ragtag independent candidates for governor to participate in an Oct. 28th forum, time and place to be announced. Daggett's not one of them. 

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: March 17, 2010

Christie budget calls for 'shared sacrifice'  Gov. Chris Christie today unveiled a $28.3 billion state budget plan that includes deep cuts in spending on property tax rebates and aid to municipalities, schools and colleges, as well as the layoffs of thousands of state workers. ...

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Contributors

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Lesniak
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Jeff
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Steve
Adubato, Jr.
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Alan
Steinberg
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Katz
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Genovese
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Norcross
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W. Kempner
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Patrick Carroll
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