ELEC seeks gubernatorial debate sponsors

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) is seeking sponsors for two televised general election debates for gubernatorial candidates and will make a decision by July 21.  Participation in the two debates is mandatory for any candidates qualifying for public financing.

A-3902, which requires Lt. Governor candidates to debate, passed the Assembly on May 21 by a 45-29 vote.  The bill is currently being considered by the Senate State Government Committee, whose Chairman, State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) is the sponsor of the Senate version of the bill.

The two gubernatorial debates must be held between September 22 and October 23.  Sponsors can't be affiliated with any political party or with any holder of or candidate for public office and must withhold general election endorsements until after the debate.  According to ELEC, the sponsor "must also be able to demonstrate experience since 1976 in sponsoring televised debates among candidates for New Jersey statewide office. Debate sponsor applicants which are either: any association of two or more separately-owned news publications or broadcasting outlets or any association of media correspondents are not required to demonstrate prior experience in televised candidate debates."

During the primary election, ELEC picked the League of Women Voters, partnered with WABC-TV (New York) and WPVI-TV (Philadelphia) to sponsor one debate, and New Jersey Network, along with the Philadelphia Inquirer and Gannett New Jersey to sponsor the other.  A third application, submitted by William Paterson University, along with Channel 9, the Star-Ledger, and The Record, was rejected.  Josh Margolin, a Star-Ledger reporter, was picked by the League of Women Voters to serve as a panelist at their debate.