Bennett, Karcher square off

Published in the Asbury Park Press 10/25/03

By ALISON WALDMAN
STAFF WRITER

EDISON -- Even when directly asked, Republican state Senate co-President John O. Bennett III could not say anything positive about Ellen Karcher, his Democratic opponent in the 12th District Senate race, during a televised debate yesterday.

One of three panelists questioning the three candidates asked Bennett what positive attributes Karcher had inherited from her father, former state Assembly Speaker Alan Karcher.

"I can only say that Ellen Karcher is not Alan Karcher," said Bennett, who described the late Karcher as "brilliant."

Karcher said her father -- who died in 1999 -- used to describe Bennett as his "favorite Republican." But she said the public's perception of him changed as the FBI subpoenaed Bennett's records to examine work he did as Marlboro township attorney.

The debate held in the Edison studio of News 12 New Jersey yesterday between Karcher, Bennett and Green Party candidate Earl Gray was broadcast last evening. The discussion centered on ethics reforms in politics, property taxes and the negative turn in campaigning in the district race.

On familiar ground

Karcher and Bennett continued to accuse each other of unethical behavior and criticized each other's ideas and records.

"John Bennett is the physical embodiment of why we need ethical reform," Karcher said. She said he has used his position in public office to secure jobs for himself and his family.

Bennett said he prepared an ethics reform package long before the topic became the focus of the campaign and a press investigation. He said he planned to sponsor the package and vote for it in the Legislature.

He repeated his criticism of Karcher -- the Marlboro Township Council president -- for not passing a "pay-to-play" ordinance on the local level to limit campaign contributions from township contractors.

He again pointed out that Karcher accepted a contribution from the law firm appointed to represent Marlboro after Bennett himself stepped aside temporarily as township attorney.

Gray said political ethics reform will require time to change the financial disclosure requirements for elected leaders and the state's pension system, which pays out to elected leaders who take public jobs.

School aid debated

Bennett said cuts in aid to school districts as a result of Gov. McGreevey's state budget forced increases in property taxes. He blasted Karcher for supporting McGreevey's budget.

Karcher, who said earlier in the debate that Bennett quoted her support for the state budget out of context, retorted that Bennett's support of the state budget in prior years under a Republican administration drastically increased the state's debt.

Gray supported the ideas of an increased income tax or wealth tax to generate more revenue and fund education equally throughout the state.

Gray, who admitted that his lung condition should have kept him out of the race, said he felt compelled to enter the political arena to support his party's issues, including the privatization of assets such as water supply reservoirs that should be public.