Some New Jersey Republican candidates refuse to run in local elections

In an era when Americans have to overcome mountains disinformation For election decisions, one traditional method of informing voters is quickly disappearing: local candidate debates.

At least some of these troubling developments can be explained by growing distrust of the nonprofit, which for decades has organized forums for elected officials, including school boards in New Jersey. League of Women Voters.

This is especially true of Republican candidates, who question the integrity of the LWV debate, as do the media, election officials and other institutions once touted as neutral arbiters. At the local level, Democrats also sometimes resisted.

“I think it’s a very liberal organization,” said Morris County Republican Committee Chairwoman Laura Ali, who also heads a group representing GOP county committees throughout New Jersey.

Her colleague, Morris County Democratic Committee Chair Amalia Duarte, has a different opinion. She calls Republicans who turn down invitations from the league “debate shyers.”

“It’s like applying for a job and refusing to show up for the interview,” said Duarte, who also serves on the Mendham Town Committee. “Republican elected officials expect voters to give them ‘jobs,’ yet they refuse to answer questions in league-sponsored debates.”

The Daily Record has co-sponsored local debates with the Morris Area League of Women Voters in recent years, but has not published an endorsement of a municipal or county election since 2017.

Is the League of Women Voters biased?

The controversy over the debate reflects a national trend. Just this fall, Republicans New York, Connecticut, Kentucky, North Carolina and other states refused to participate in League of Women Voters meetings. Since league rules prohibit single-party debates, a refusal by one side usually derails the entire process. ProPublica, a nonprofit organization dedicated to investigative journalism, noted in its release. report for 2023 that “for decades, the League of Women Voters played a vital but largely practical role in American politics: meeting the information needs of voters by holding debates and polling candidates.” The league “was known for its tablets, not its confrontations; respected, not scolded.”

But in recent years, as ProPublica has found, “Republicans have increasingly resisted the League, portraying it as a collection of angry leftists rather than friendly do-gooders.”

Ali, chairwoman of the Morris Republican Party, suggested just that in blog post last year, explaining why she advised Republicans not to participate in panel debates. In the few cases where Republican municipal candidates did run, she said, they were asked about climate change, local boards of education, the 2020 presidential election and Moms for Liberty, a conservative group focused on school programs.

“The organization’s recent track record has unfortunately demonstrated a clear and overwhelming bias against Republicans and the issues they champion,” Ali wrote, adding that Republicans would be happy to debate “in balanced and fair forums.”

The league originates in women’s suffrage movement beginning of the 20th century. On its national website, it describes itself as “a nonpartisan grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights.”

The homepage also highlights issues that have become associated with Democratic Party campaigns, noting that voting “determines your access to affordable health care, amplifying the voices of those most impacted by climate change” and “promotes immigration reform, including family reunification and political asylum.” “

The League also strongly condemned then-President Donald Trump after his supporters rioted at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, calling Trump “tyrannical despot”

Debate avoidance is ‘the latest threat to our democracy’

IN 2022, article In The Hill, the league called debate avoidance “the newest threat to our democracy.”

“Attacking the League of Women Voters as partisan is a poor excuse for avoiding debate,” wrote Deborah Turner, LWV national board president, and Virginia Case Solomon, the group’s CEO. “The opportunity to hear from candidates immediately before Election Day is essential to protecting the right of every voter to make an informed choice, regardless of their political affiliation.”

In New Jersey, Republican refusals led the league to cancel debates in Glen Rock, Fair Lawn and Marlboro, local news reports reported. The Morris Area chapter said in a news release that members have tried to organize 24 debates this election season, ranging from congressional races to local school boards. Due to reduced participation, only 10 could be planned.

“For more than a century, the League has provided objective information through forums/debates, candidate profiles, voter registration drives, and educational events,” the Morris chapter writes. “Despite numerous attempts since August, many candidates refused or did not respond. When candidates refuse, voters miss an opportunity and democracy suffers.”

“The League’s forums/debates are strictly nonpartisan and moderated by trained professionals who follow (Federal Election Commission) guidelines,” they said, adding that their structure “ensures there is no bias or personal attacks.” As always, the League does not endorse or oppose any candidates or political parties.”

However, Ali said she does not trust the local organization because its members are “active democrats.”

Duarte, the Democratic Party chairwoman, countered that in her experience, Morris’s office “carefully considered public issues and vetted them to ensure they were relevant to the issues candidates would address if elected… It’s important to note that their debates are broadcast live, and then archived.” to view on YouTube. No other organization offers this type of service to candidates and the public.”

Who canceled the New Jersey debate?

Republicans aren’t the only candidates to decline debate invitations this year. Tops the list US Rep. Mikie Sherrill, The Democrat, seeking a fourth term, represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. Her reasoning had nothing to do with the league or its reputation, but rather focused on her opponent, Republican Joseph Belnom.

“Joe Belnom participated in the violent insurrection on January 6, where they chanted ‘Hang Mike Pence,’ attempted to stop the peaceful transfer of power and injured more than 140 law enforcement officers,” Sherrill spokesman Sean Higgins said. “A person who does not believe in our democracy should not participate in the debate, let alone represent New Jersey in the United States Congress.”

In the interview, Belnom said he is an enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump, who believes the 2020 election “was stolen.” He acknowledged attending the Jan. 6 rally in Washington before the march on the Capitol, but said he left before part of the crowd clashed with police and stormed the building, leading to what many are calling an insurrection.

Belnom did not agree to attend a USA Today Network editorial board meeting in New Jersey in October, while Cheryl did. obtaining approval in progress. But Belnom, a building inspector, accepted a debate invitation from the League of Women Voters.

Asked about the LWV debate, Belnom responded via email: “Simple answer: Mickey Sherrill is a coward and has no integrity. Her spokesman said I didn’t deserve a seat on any debate stage. I think voters will disagree with this. “She is using an excuse for the events of January 6th even though I am a law-abiding citizen and the Republican candidate in this district.”

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Why did one Morris candidate say no?

As a result of the Morris County vote, the league said incumbent county surrogate Heather Darling, a Republican, agreed to participate in the debate, but fellow Democrat John Holley declined.

“I think it’s important,” Darling said. “I don’t care what forum or format it is. I think if people want to know who their candidates are and what they stand for, it’s only fair that I give you access if I’m going to ask you to vote.”

Holly did not respond to requests for comment.

In other cities, Democratic candidates are outraged. Robert Menard, running for Boonton Town Committee, blamed his Republican opponent, incumbent Thomas SanFilippo Jr., for disrupting the debate.

“I believe elected officials have a responsibility to maintain transparency and open communication with their constituents,” Menard wrote in a campaign statement. “The League of Women Voters and the Daily Record have provided Mr. SanFilippo and I with the opportunity to discuss and debate key issues affecting Boonton Township, allowing voters to make informed decisions ahead of the general election. I really wanted to take part, but my opponent decided not to participate.”

SanFilippo said that after studying the league, he decided it was “predominantly a partisan organization” with little knowledge of local issues. “I thought it was better not to be involved in this and just continue my campaign, going door to door, talking to the community face to face and actually solving their problems,” he said.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news in your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

E-mail: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com

Twitter/X: @wwesthoven