On Wednesday, Downtown Jersey City residents got to see the five candidates running for the Ward E City Council seat, which encompasses all of downtown, at a debate at the Rafael Cordero Elementary School, 158 Erie St.
The five candidates running for Ward E are Jaime Vazquez, Guy Catrillo, Azam Riaz, Joseph Tarrazi and the incumbent Steven Fulop.
The 90-minute debate was organized by the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association (HPNA), and moderated by HPNA member Sam Stoia with time keeping by HPNA President Ulu Howard. This was the last debate in Downtown JC before Tuesday’s election.
The candidates answer questions on such topics such as the impact of an impending reval upon Downtown residents, the preservation of the Sixth Street Embankment, and their vision for the future development of Newark Avenue.
But the debate didn’t start off smoothly, as Catrillo, who is running on Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s election team, asked Stoia and other members of the HPNA to disclose whom they are supporting a candidate in the election. This was done in connection with a recent controversy regarding the Catrillo campaign and the HPNA, which was reported by the Hudson Reporter this past week.
Stoia answered diplomatically that all the members of the HPNA are supporting a candidate, but the group, as a non-profit organization, cannot support a specific candidate and can only encourage members to vote.
Catrillo also maintained during the debate a strategy to criticize Fulop for being a critic of the Healy adminstration, and emphasizing how he will be a “team player” who will work with the rest of the City Council. Mayor Jerramiah Healy was in the audience for the debate along with other Healy/Catrillo allies.
Fulop at one point commented that Catrillo’s efforts was turning the debate into “Beat Up on Steve.” – Ricardo Kaulessar