HAMMONTON BLOG

Hopefully many people in our town tuned in on TV or on the internet to watch the Debate on Sunday evening between the candidates for Hammonton Town Council. Unfortunately, Democratic candidate Anthony Falcone was unable to attend. Anthony lives with diabetes and over the last few days it got the better of him. But after a few days rest and medicinal adjustments, I am sure Anthony will be right back out on the campaign trail with Jim Mac Lane and Mike Perrotta.

If you were not able to see the debate you can view it by clicking on the following links.

Debate Part 1

Debate Part 2

The Press of Atlantic City also reported on the event.

Candidates talk taxes at Hammonton forum


(Published: Monday, October 20, 2008)

HAMMONTON - It wasn't really a debate, not when the Town Council candidates could only answer questions in turn, but Sunday night's joint appearance at Town Hall was certainly a competition: one to convince voters they won't pay higher taxes next year.

The jittery national economy wedged its way into most of the questions, answers and prepared statements heard in the 90-minute forum. Hammonton has kept its tax rate stable in recent years, and the candidates assured viewers that would remain the case next year.

The Hammonton First candidates guaranteed no tax increases if they sweep into office. Democrats made a similar pledge, further saying the adoption of all their proposals could drop the tax rate. The incumbent Republicans reminded voters the tax freezes have been possible because of years of laying groundwork.

The council chamber was less than one-third full for the debate, which was televised live on a chilly night. The audience didn't applaud or cheer until the very end, heeding moderator Corinne Robinson of the League of Women Voters, who warned against taking time away from the candidates.

Democratic candidate Anthony Falcone was absent, having been hospitalized with complications from diabetes. He was listed in stable condition Sunday evening, and Robinson read his prepared statements.

The other eight candidates - incumbent Republicans James Bertino, Anthony Marino and Jerry Vitalo, Democrats Mike Perrotta and James MacLane, and Hammonton First candidates Tom Gribbin, Jeanne Lewis and Sam Rodio - took turns answering questions from Mark Leiser of Hammonton News on behalf of their slates. The questions were not given to the candidates ahead of time, Robinson said.

Several questions elicited similar responses. Asked what services they'd cut if necessary, all candidates said they'd be able to attract enough new businesses to avoid cutting services. All slates were in favor of using grants, not tax money, to help locate in Hammonton a campus of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. The candidates also hope to help the cash-strapped William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital, but again, with grant money if possible.

There was little direct criticism from the Republicans, all incumbents, or from the Hammonton First candidates, whose party holds a council majority. Lewis credited her party for conceiving the debate; Vitalo blamed Mayor John DiDonato's "inaction" for the departure of two businesses.

But the Democrats, who have spent more than a decade out of power, lambasted the administration. MacLane said political fliers claiming a shrinking debt and growing surplus are false and that the opposite is true.

"We need to start doing things without incurring any additional debt," MacLane said. Perrotta pushed for the town to merge some services with neighbors Folsom and Mullica Township.

The Hammonton First candidates seemed to speak on behalf of a majority their party already has, not as candidates still on the outside. They talked about the new Town Hall being built after years of discussion; and Rodio rattled off businesses solidifying their presence in Hammonton.

"We are really an open and honest government," Lewis said. "The tasks that are brought before us, we finish them."

Gribbin, a relative newcomer to Hammonton, positioned himself as an apt representative for thousands of others in his shoes.

Republicans highlighted their role in recent achievements, as Vitalo claimed their committees controlled more than half of the 2007 budget. Marino emphasized the need to keep utility surpluses from paying staff salaries.

"Experience does matter here at the council chambers, and these gentlemen and I will give you all we have," Bertino said.

The parties seemed to practice selective omission. They were asked to grade the town's success in recruiting and retaining business; Gribbin gave Hammonton an A+, then the two other slates addressed the subject without awarding a grade.

Later, MacLane and the Democrats were alone in responding to both halves of a question about the government's recent successes and failures, naming the dwindling surplus. The other parties, with a stake in the past, mentioned only successes.

E-mail Eric Scott Campbell:

ECampbell@pressofac.com

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