SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Six candidates running for governor of New Jersey gathered Sunday night for the first of three Democratic primary debates. Hosted by the New Jersey Globe and Rider University, the debate was inexplosive and mostly friendly.
For about two hours, the candidates answered questions and explained their positions on affordability, immigration, transgender rights and major problems with New Jersey Transit, among other policy questions.
Former Senate President Steve Sweeney says his deep knowledge and experience in Trenton makes him the right choice.
“I’m the one candidate that knows where the lights and the bathroom is, day one,” he said. “I know it sounds silly but that’s the truth. We have a lot of challenges in New Jersey. We need to make New Jersey the strongest economy in the nation, and we need to do that by controlling our spending.”
New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller said he wants people to put his lawn signs in their yards because he’s fighting for the middle class.
“We need to put up those lawn signs for ourselves, our neighbors and our families and those issues that we care about,” Spiller said. “That’s who I will be as your governor, centering the issues that affect you because they affect me.”
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka says it’s time for Democrats to stop playing nice, and every voter needs to ask themselves if they want to be weak or strong.
“Protecting women’s right to choose. Protecting our neighbors, whether they got here 40 years ago or 40 minutes ago. Protecting families and people who are either gay or straight. We have to be talking about building an economy that sees us all, that includes us all, where everybody gets the opportunity to be part of the middle class, where they can own homes.”
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop says he brings the change New Jersey needs.
“And so our campaign isn’t for everybody. I’ll be the first to say that. But if you believe that New Jersey is capable of better, if you believe that it is capable of change, and you believe in substantive policy, I do think our campaign is for you and I hope you consider joining it.”
Congressman Josh Gottheimer says he is best suited to fix New Jersey’s longtime affordability issues.
“I’m somebody with a long record of solving the toughest problems. We can get this done. We gotta be positive and optimistic about it, and if we work together there’s nothing that can stop us, given how great of a state we live in.”
Congresswoman Mikie Sherril says she’s the one to take on the challenges facing us locally and from Washington.
“It’s time to lead, follow or get out of the way, and I choose to lead. If you want somebody to build houses that are affordable for our state, we’re going to need a strong Democratic governor.”
Republican gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to debate later this week.