POLITICS

Debates are well and good, but let’s vote already

Mike Drago, a Trenton resident with an opinion, whooshed through the Trenton Transit Center headed for his daily morning train.

“Paul Perez and Reed Gusciora have to debate. Right?,” Drago offered.

Borrowing from a popular George and Ira Gershwin Porgy and Bess tune sung by Sportin’ Life, a drug dealer, “It Ain’t Necessarily So.”

Gusciora challenged Perez to three debates over the course of three weeks before city voters head to the polls for a June 12 run off election to determine who leads the city for the next four years.

The Gusciora camp released a statement last week with an attempt to draw out Perez out for a showdown.

“This is about leadership. I want to have a respectful dialogue on issues facing the Capital City. All candidates owe that to the voters,” a statement noted.

Perez, a runner-up run off loser to Mayor Eric Jackson in 2014, claimed 2,536 votes as the top vote receiver in the May 8 election. Perez held a near 700vote advantage over Gusciora, a state assemblyman. Gusciora stands correct about voters entitlements but political strategists would tell Perez to stay away from any forum that gives his opponent an opportunity to make up ground.

Debates? Sure, these last two men standing should give the people what they want and haggle about all things Trenton despite the fact that most voters have decided on their candidate.

“My mind’s made up,” Drago offered. Just like the 10,000 other voters in Trenton who remain engaged in politics despite thousands of others estranged from government elections.

The cold, hard fact remains that most Trenton residents could not care less about another round of elections that cause minimal excitement. So, let’s debate, talk, challenge and launch accusations about each other.

Perez bristled when asked about his first-time vote advantage that established him as a leading candidate. This may be the time to plant flowers in his family’s rose garden.

“I’m going to debate,” Perez said. “This is not about playing safe or doing what other mayoral candidates may have done in the past. I’m more than willing to let the public know about my plans on how we as one community can improve Trenton.”

Gusciora and Perez will debate on June 3 at Mercer County Community College.

JOHN BERRY — THE TRENTONIAN Reed Gusciora, left, and Paul Perez participated in the MidJersey Chamber of Commerce mayoral forum Tuesday morning at Cure Arena in Trenton.