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PRINCETON: Democratic congressional candidates face off

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
There was more agreement than debate as the four Democratic Party candidates for the 12th Congressional District faced off during a forum Tuesday night in Princeton.
   The field of candidates includes Assemblyman Upendra Chivikula, D-17, Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-14, Sen. Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-15, and Princeton Physics and Plasma Lab professor Andrew Zwicker.
   The League of Women Voters sponsored the event Tuesday night at the Witherspoon Hall, the Princeton municipal building on Witherspoon Street.
   All four are competing for the Democratic nomination, which will be decided during the primary elections June 3.
   The winner will face Republican Alieta Eck in the general election in November to replace U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, who is retiring after serving eight terms in Congress.
   For 90 minutes, the candidates addressed a variety of issues raised by the more than 100 people attending.
   Most of the issues, such as climate change, gun control and health care found the four in agreement that a “progressive” agenda needed to be pursued in Washington, D.C., and that whoever wins the seat needs to stand up firmly to the tea party.
   ”The tea party is worried about the 1 percent, while middle class families are struggling,” Mr. Chivikula said. “We are progressives, we are Democrats, and we don’t leave anyone behind.”
   Sen. Greenstein said she is running to “stop the tea party” from “dismantling 80 years of progressive policies.”
   Mr. Zwicker said he is running, as a scientist, to continue Mr. Holt’s legacy and that he feels he can convince other congressmen to agree on the issues based on facts instead of just ideology.
   Ms. Coleman was the most emphatic, calling the tea party “evil” for obstructing President Barack Obama’s progressive agenda and presenting an attitude of not caring about those in society who need help.
   She said she has been fighting for progressive values in New Jersey and wants the opportunity to take that fight to Congress.
   All of the candidates said they support keeping the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
   ”Obamacare has ended discrimination (in health care),” Mr. Chivikula said. “The Republicans want us to go back, but it is like putting the toothpaste back in the tube. It’s not going to happen.”
   Mr. Zwicker said the law makes sure everyone has access to the best health care system in the world and he would like to see it move eventually to a “single-payer” system like a “Medicare for all.”
   ”It is here to stay; it is not going anywhere,” he said.
   Ms. Greenstein also said she wants to see it move to a single-payer system that truly provides universal health care.
   Ms. Coleman said the law is the “biggest and most significant” public policy program since Social Security was enacted under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and it ensures access to everyone.
   The candidates agreed that climate change is real and a major issue facing the nation.
   They all said they supported a “carbon tax” for industries that put carbon pollutants into the atmosphere.
   Mr. Zwicker said he would use scientific facts to make his case to other colleagues in the House of Representatives.
   ”Climate change is the most significant risk and threat to our entire planet that we have ever faced,” he said. “We must quickly reduce our carbon emissions and we must start now.”
   The candidates also agreed on tougher gun control laws.
   Ms. Coleman said that representing Trenton has really brought the issue home to her and there is a need to take some weapons off the street entirely.
   She talked about a recent funeral service in the city for a young man killed by a gun that ended in further gun violence.
   ”I don’t think the Second Amendment (to the U.S. Constitution) meant that people should have access to these (powerful) weapons,” she said. “You don’t need an AK-47 to kill a deer.”
   The candidates also agreed that the federal minimum wage should be increased to help combat the growing income inequality.
   ”We need to raise the federal minimum wage and move to a more living wage,” Ms. Greenstein said.
   Mr. Chivikula said that not only should the wage be raised, but more should be done in the area of education to ensure students could get good-paying jobs that may not require a full, four-year degree.
   Ms. Coleman said starting education earlier, by making pre-school available would also shrink the gap.
   ”Education is the great equalizer,” she said.
   They also said that there should be increases in the federal Pell grants to allow a larger number of students to get help paying for college by raising the income levels to qualify for the grants.
   In addition, they all favor dropping interest rates on student loans so that graduates don’t become so encumbered before getting a job after college.
   The debate did not seem to change many minds of those attending the event.
   Franklin Park resident Carl Wright, 53, said he planned on supporting Mr. Chiviklua.
   ”I will be voting for a former representative of my district, and that is Upendra,” Mr. Wright said. “I liked the way he represented me as an assemblyman and going to Washington will move that forward on that quest.”
   Libbie Counselman, 59, of Plainsboro, said that she has not made up her mind as of yet, but liked Mr. Zwicker with Ms Greenstein and Ms. Coleman as close seconds.
   ”It’s a hard decision,” she said.
   Ms. Counselman said she was considering how the winner of the seat would be able to interact with the others.
   ”It is so many white males,” she said.