Too often, candidates who take taxpayer dollars through New York City’s public matching funds program duck public debates. They collect millions in public money, but avoid standing side by side with their opponents to answer tough questions. That’s not just unfair, it’s undemocratic.
That’s why I introduced legislation to require all City Council and Borough President candidates receiving matching funds to participate in at least one official debate. Right now, only candidates for citywide offices like Mayor, Comptroller, and Public Advocate are required to debate. Local candidates can skip them altogether, even while running campaigns funded by your tax dollars.
My position is simple: if you take public money, you owe the public your time. Debates give voters the opportunity to hear from every candidate directly, compare ideas, and make an informed choice about who should represent them.
Some of my opponents don’t like this idea. They’d rather hide behind press releases and carefully crafted ads than defend their records or explain their plans in front of the people they’re asking to serve. But Staten Islanders deserve better than that.
Democracy works best when candidates face the voters, answer the tough questions, and lay their vision out for all to see. That’s the standard I hold myself to, and it’s the standard every candidate should meet if they want taxpayer support for their campaign.
Read more about my debate participation bill here: PIX11 Coverage
