Debate doomed by lack of agreement

MANALAPAN — It has often been said that what is old is new again. Nowhere is that more true than in politics as evidenced by a controversy sparked by the proposal of a debate among the four candidates who are running for two seats on the Manalapan Township Committee in the Nov. 4 election.

Democrats Michelle Roth and Donald Holland are running against Republicans Ryan Green and William Garcia for two three-year seats on the governing body. Roth, who is serving as Manalapan's mayor in 2008, is the only incumbent in the race.

A public debate had been in the offing but now seems unlikely because the candidates cannot agree on a format for a debate.

Roth and Holland said they wanted a traditional debate format as set forth under the auspices of the League of Women Voters, which would also moderate the debate, and said they believed an agreement about the format had already been agreed to by all four candidates.

The Democrats said the format they referred to would permit a candidate to respond to an assertion made by an opponent.

Green and Garcia said they will not agree to a debate that involves a give-andtake among the candidates with rebuttal statements.

"I understand the definition of a debate, but we see this as a candidates forum," Green said.

He said he believes the most important aspect of such an event would be to get information out to the public about where the candidates stand on issues that affect the township.

"We believe a classic debate would put Mayor Roth at an advantage," Garcia said.

Green said he also believes the traditional debate format would only be to the Democrats' advantage.

"It is our feeling that Michelle Roth and Don Holland want to include rebuttals in an effort to tear us down rather than running on their own records," Green said.

Green said he and Garcia will not change their position about the format of a debate.

"At this point it is our position to do it this way," he said, meaning that the Republicans will hold public forums and answer questions put to them by members of the public.

"Bill Garcia and I are moving forward with our plans for candidate forums in Manalapan between now and Election Day. We want the voters of Manalapan to have the opportunity to hear our plans for the future, as well as question us on the issues that matter most, in a forum that is not dominated by petty, partisan bickering.

"We plan to hold forums at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters and at Covered Bridge (adult community), and we plan to explore the possibility of doing a forum in Knob Hill (residential development) as well. Michelle Roth and Don Holland will be invited to attend and participate," Green said.

Upon learning that Green and Garcia intend to stick to their "no rebuttal" requirement, Roth and Holland issued a joint statement which said, "We were shocked at the about-face by our opponents and remind them that they had agreed to rebuttals in August."

Although they confirm meeting with their opponents in August, Green and Garcia disputed the Democrats' contention that an agreement about any debate format was made at that time, much less that they agreed to the traditional debate format and the inclusion of rebuttals.

Said Green of the assertion by Roth and Holland, "That's a complete lie. The meeting (at Wegmans) was a discussion and we made it crystal clear at that meeting that we were not agreeing to rebuttals."

Garcia said there may have been a "misunderstanding" on the part of Roth and Holland about the debate format.

Roth said, "We are in favor of debates. Rebuttals are critical for exposing the differences between the candidates' positions. Our opponents are in favor of nothing more than a joint appearance by all four candidates to make speeches. We are not going to provide a platform for the negativism of the past.

"Without an opportunity for rebuttal, false statements and empty promises can go unchecked. I am very disappointed that our opponents have gone back on their word and refuse to debate in the format established by the League of Women Voters and used at every level of government. Why are they afraid of this format?," she said.

A review of the League of Women Voters debate form outlines parameters which consist of opening statements by each candidate and closing statements that are given in reverse order from the opening statements by the candidates.

In the event a debate was held, the questions asked would have come from submissions sent directly to the league, which would whittle down the questions received to eliminate redundancy while trying to pick the questions that best represent the issues of the day. First choice of speech for either side would be decided by a coin toss or by choosing alphabetically.

After a candidate answered a question put to him by the moderator, under the rules established by the league, a candidate is given an agreed-upon length of time to make a rebuttal to any assertions made by his or her opponent.

That format, from the looks of things, will not be taking place in Manalapan this year among the four residents who are seeking elective office.

Contact Kathy Baratta at gmntnews@gmnews.com.