By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — Borough Council members and residents discussed the upcoming mayoral debate, scheduled for Sept. 24.
According to a flyer distributed around the borough, candidate Doug Mair invited his opponents, Council members Larry Quattrone and Robert Thibault to an open debate.
The debate is scheduled for Sept. 24 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hightstown Firehouse and will be moderated by Hightstown High School Principal Dennis Vinson Jr., according to the flyer
According to the flyer, the public is invited to attend the debate over the issues facing the Borough of Hightstown.
"My calendar, however, indicates that the Jewish New Year begins at sun down," Resident Walt Sikorski said. "I think it’s highly insensitive in a multiple cultural society that no one would check the calendar."
He said that there are "two candidates running on that ticket who are of Jewish persuasion."
"So if they did want to go, they would have to choose between their religious principals or politics," he said. "It reminds me of the proverbial question in court when did you stop beating your wife. No matter how you answer it you’re in trouble."
These debates were set up with rules that one side seems to know about and the other hasn’t been informed, he added.
"I don’t think that is an example of fair play and transparency," he said. "Let’s practice some openness and transparency in the democratic process."
He said that the "non-partisan League of Women voters, which is a recognized group that has sponsored debates for years and hold similar forums every election cycle and there are clearly defined rules and procedures."
He said that the forum is taped and later televised for others to see who were not present.
"The debate is a mayoral debate all three were invited," former Councilwoman Lynne Woods said in response to concerns raised about not being invited.
All three were told that they have had input into on how this is going to be run, she added.
"The structure has not been put into cement," she said.
She said she thought the debate was "a great idea."
"When I spoke to the League of Women Voters they did not have a problem with this at all," she said. "They were very excited about it in fact."
Mr. Mair said that he "was responsible for asking the other candidates to join the mayoral debate."
"I believe it was very transparent," said Mr. Mair. "I don’t want this election to be about signs. I don’t want it to be about proximities (of signs) and stuff like that. I just want to have an open and honest debate. I think that the public is going to appreciate that for those who have decided to come."
Council member Quattrone noted that he has "two meetings that night."
"Unfortunately, I can’t sit through that," said Mr. Quattrone. "I have two meetings to go to that night which are extremely important."
Councilman Seth Kurs commented on the scheduling of the debate.
"I think even more important scheduling a political debate on a major holiday such as Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) is just an insult to all Jewish members on council who are candidates and all Jewish members of our community," he said. "It’s hard to argue that it’s an open public meeting when people are being specifically excluded from being able to attend on one of the holiest night for the Jewish community."
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Sept. 24 and ends at sunset on Sept. 26.
He noted that is "unfortunate that someone has chosen to ignore the calendar."
Mr. Mair responded that he is "not anti-Semitic," and said afterwards that his campaign manager, Ms. Woods, sent an email to the mayoral candidates with three different dates and only Mr. Thibault responded.

