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PRECEDE: Trenton
Originally appeared in the Associated Press on 10/10/01 8:29 PM
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Republican Bret Schundler in the first televised debate of the campaign for governor Wednesday charged his opponent, Democrat Jim McGreevey, would raise taxes while he promised to lower them.
"If you want higher taxes you should vote for him. If you want lower taxes you should vote for me," Schundler said.
McGreevey refuted the point but said it was "irresponsible" for candidates to promise never to raise a tax in light of the Sept. 11 terror attack and the demands it has placed on government for more security. "We have to live within our means," he said. "My commitment is that we are not going to raise taxes."
McGreevey touted himself as a candidate who promised to represent the state's working families who have been hit hardest by property taxes and auto insurance, issues he said the Republicans in Trenton have failed to address in the past eight years.
He also attacked Schundler for his promise to take down tolls on the Garden State Parkway within nine months. "At the end of the day people want a governor who is honest with them. Mr. Schundler can't even get the permits in nine months."
Schundler said it was a simple task of replacing the toll revenues and he stuck to his nine-month pledge. "It just depends on your priorities," he said.
McGreevey, who nearly beat Christie Whitman in 1997, has held to many of the same basic messages he used then and has avoided costly proposals.
Schundler has focused on an overhaul of public education as the candidate pushes charter schools, tuition credits and school choice.
The candidates are scheduled to meet Oct. 25 for the second of the two mandatory debates. That one will be broadcast on the ABC affiliate stations in Philadelphia and New York. The state's campaign finance laws require candidates who accept public matching funds to participate in two televised debates.
McGreevey and Schundler have agreed to meet Oct. 18 at a forum sponsored by the seven daily Gannett New Jersey newspapers, N.J. 101.5 FM radio and Comcast Cable's CN8 network.
The two will also appear together for a live call-in program on N.J. 101.5 FM on Oct. 16
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