Galloway, N.J. - The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy and The Press of Atlantic City will sponsor debates among candidates in the state’s 2^nd Legislative District on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017.

Both the Senate and Assembly debates will be held in the Campus Center Theatre on the Stockton University campus and will be open to the public. The debates will begin at 6 p.m.

“The Hughes Center is committed to civic engagement. These debates provide a forum in which voters can evaluate where candidates stand on the issues,” said Sharon Schulman, Executive Director of the Hughes Center.

The 2^nd District, covering parts of Atlantic County, has been one of the state’s most competitive districts in recent elections, Schulman said.

Incumbent Sen. Jim Whelan is retiring from office. The District 2 state Senate race pits Republican Assemblyman Chris Brown against Democrat Colin Bell, an attorney and former Atlantic County freeholder.

In the state Assembly race, Democratic incumbent Vince Mazzeo and running mate John Armato will run against Republicans Vince Sera and Brenda Taube. Also running for Assembly in the 2^nd District are independent Heather Gordon and Green Party candidate Mico Lucide.

The cosponsors announced that the following criteria must be met for any candidate to participate in the debates.

• Each candidate must receive at least 7 percent support in a Stockton Polling Institute poll taken in the 2^nd District.
• Each candidate must report raising and spending at least $5,100, the minimum amount that triggers a state Election Law Enforcement Commission requirement to file a financial disclosure report 29 days before the Nov. 7, 2017 general election.

 

About the Hughes Center

The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University serves as a catalyst for research, analysis and innovative policy solutions on the economic, social and cultural issues facing New Jersey, and promotes the civic life of New Jersey through engagement, education and research. The center is named for William J. Hughes, whose distinguished career includes service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ambassador to Panama and as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Stockton. The Hughes Center can be found on Facebook and can be followed on Twitter @hughescenter. 

For more information about Stockton University, visit Stockton.edu.

Contact:
Diane D’Amico
News and Media Relations Director
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.D’Amico@stockton.edu
(609) 652-4593
stockton.edu/media