May 23, 2008 - 1:36am
7th District GOP debate concludes in Mountainside
By Max Pizarro
Category: HouseTags: Martin Marks, Kelly Hatfield, Thomas Roughneen, Leonard Lance, Kate Whitman, 7th C.D., Darren Young, AD Amar
Clockwise from lower left: Leonard Lance, AD Amar, Martin Marks, Darren Young, Kelly Hatfield, Thomas Roughneen, Kate Whitman.
MOUNTAINSIDE - The seven Republican candidates for Congress in the 7th District debated at Town Hall here on Thursday night in a one-hour forum moderated by Fred Rossi of the Westfield Leader and Scotch Plains Fanwood Times.
As expected, most of the criticism flew in the direction of state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon), who in turn directed his ire at the $10 trillion national debt.
Iraq War veteran Thomas Roughneen of Watchung attacked Lance’s environmental advocacy, while Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks and businesswoman Kate Whitman of Peapack-Gladstone blasted him for not being a more effective fighter in state government for property tax relief.
Like Marks, minus the severe words for Lance, Former Summit Council Vice President Kelly Hatfield touted her experience in local government. Like his presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), Darren Young of Summit noted his opposition to the Iraq War. Seton Hall University business Prof. A.D. Amar touted his knowledge of economic affairs.
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and the June 3 winner is....
1-Lance: Too much insider support and has kept his campaign mostly positive. 2- Marks: With the pro-life endorsements, he has built-in automatic support and the conservative message will ring true with the right wingers headed to the polls in a low turnout election. 3- Whitman: Lots of $$ but the Whitman name is going to drag her down. Her constant negativity against Lance likely due to internal polls showing her way behind. 4- Hatfield: Sending same message as Lance and Whitman. She's just in the wrong race at the wrong time against a field that is just too crowded for her to shine. 5,6,7: Young, Roughneen, and Amar: No money, No message. Why are these people even putting themselves through this? It will be an interesting battle to see who avoids the embarrassment of the cellar.
What a happy family, not!
I am not sure what seven candidates can say in one hour forum. Oneliners, twoliners? Like: I am Lance, vote for me, or I am Whitman, vote for me not for Lance.
Interestingly "Seton Hall University business Prof. A.D. Amar touted his knowledge of economic affairs." If voters in District 7th were smart they would select him.
Maybe NJ would set a trend that we select qualified people like Prof. Amar and Dr. Sabrin to legislative bodies, instead of career politicians, family names, and failed lawyers.
Go Young!
Go Young!