Legislature Candidates Talk General Election Debates

Saying the Republican incumbents need to answer for "their record of coddling millionaires at the expense of middle class residents," the Democratic 26th district state legislature candidates issued a challenge to their opponents via a press release.

Senate candidate Wasim Khan and Assembly runningmates Joseph Raich and Elliot Isibor issued a call for a series of debates held throughout the district.

The trio is challenging Republican incumbents, Sen. Joe Pennachio and Assemblymen Jay Webber and Alex DeCroce.

“After two years of attacks on the middle class, Joe Pennacchio has a lot to answer for,” said Khan, a Parsippany resident.

“Our Republican opponents think they can take the voters for granted, but we know differently. They can hope that their silence will make residents forget about their votes to slash property tax relief and give millionaires a tax break, but we won't let that happen. Voters have a real choice in this election, and voters deserve to see those choices for themselves.”

Sen. Joe Pennacchio said in response that this was the first time he heard about request for a debate.

Through his office, the state senator said he is willing to debate Khan, but wants to know "how [Khan] justifies 10 years of Democrat overtaxing, overborrowing and ovespending."

“After two decades, DeCroce has fallen far out of touch, even stooping so low to deride the unemployed as 'those people,' Raich said. "If DeCroce can't relate to the very real challenges facing his constituents, no wonder he doesn't want to debate in front of them.”

“Voters deserve to hear from Webber himself why he decided to give millionaires a $40,000 tax break while making middle class families pay more in property taxes just to maintain their schools," said Isibor. "We're sure the answer can't be pretty, otherwise we'd have heard it by now.”

A joint response came from Webber's and DeCroce's campaigns: "We welcome a discussion of the issues with our opponents, and in fact already have accepted an invitation for a candidates' forum in Rockaway on Oct. 17.  We look forward to seeing them there."