Well the long talked about mayoral debate is over. A quick on the spot survey showed the following:
Davis Won – 71%
O’Donnell Won – 9%
Brown Won – 3%
No Winner – 17%
Here are some of the high(low)lights:
Dr. Brown on attracting new people to town: “We need to be careful about what type of people we attract”
Mayor Davis on affordable housing: “We will leave no one behind as we move forward”
Jason O’Donnell on the new 2700 jobs coming to Bayonne: “They are not good jobs”
Jason O’Donnell on his role at Public Safety Director and Municipal Services Director: “I didn’t do much”
Mayor Davis on tax abatements: “These abatements approved by my administration will bring in $516 million in new revenues versus $51 million if the properties are left as is”
Dr. Brown on the municipal budget: “We need to reduce police and fire”
Mayor Davis on the budget: “We need to continue to find new permanent” revenue sources to decrease the existing budget hole”
Mayor Davis on Jason O’Donnell’s four years as Public Safety Director: “Never once did I see you in the Director’s Office” (no response from O’Donnell)
Dr. Brown on PILOTs: “We need to do them”
Jason O’Donnell on PILOTs: “We need to do them”
Mayor Davis on police brutality suits: “In my four years we have not had a single one”
Jason O’Donnell on police brutality suits: “The four that happened when I was Public Safety Director were not my fault”
There was one clear drop the mike moment. The candidates were asked about accepting outside funds for their campaigns. O’Donnell responded that the two outside unions providing him with huge funding were doing so because the Mayor has not created jobs. The Mayor responded that the two unions didn’t support him because when he was assigned to the FBI he had their leaders locked-up for illegal activities. No response from O’Donnell.
Be sure to watch the debate for yourself and you decide if you also believe that Mayor Davis was the winner.
You be the Judge