Baroni, Singh debate for 14th

By JOHN MAJESKI
STAFF WRITER
jmajeski@thnt.com

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Assemblyman Bill Baroni and Seema Singh, rivals in the race for a 14th District state Senate seat, share many of the same goals: End statewide political corruption, improve education locally, support open-space preservation and find a longterm solution to the irksome issue of escalating property taxes.

It's in how to reach such finish lines that these two stand apart.

Baroni, a two-term Assembly Republican, and Singh, a Democrat and the state's former ratepayer advocate, squared off Monday during a Home News Tribune-sponsored debate at the South Brunswick Senior Center. The debate was part of the state's Clean Elections program, a pilot program that aims to remove special-interest money from campaigns.

"The fact of the matter is we need more broad-based taxing," Baroni said when the pair were asked about revenue sources that could help the property-tax quagmire.

Baroni said the Garden State's formula for supporting public education via property taxes is nothing short of broken: "What that says is the more wealthy (the municipality), the more money you have (for schools)."

Singh also supports a new school-funding formula to assist with taxes, plus the exploration of shared services, a "constitutional amendment guaranteeing direct property-tax relief" and bringing in more revenue by attracting businesses including those in the stem-cell research sector.

The pair had nothing similar to say when asked about a solution for finding funds to repair roads and bridges in this cash-strapped state.

"I will not support a gas tax," Singh said after Baroni said he backs the idea. "No tax. I don't like the "t' word."

Baroni said some 40 percent of those paying the state's gas tax are out-of-state motorists.

"It hits people who use New Jersey roads, but who don't live here," he said.

On the topic of ethics reform, both said measures such as a complete ban on pay-to-play are necessary.

But the issue turned personal when Singh called Baroni "unethical." She said her opponent has taken money from public-interest groups and flip-flops his stance on abortion to satisfy potential voters.

"I thought the question was about (ethics reform)," Baroni responded.

Both candidates support a ballot question to bond $200 million to keep the Garden State Preservation Trust going until a permanent funding solution is secured.

"New Jersey has such a rich landscape, and it needs to be preserved," Singh said.

Singh said the state should look toward future preservation of open space, farms and historic sites by working more closely with local and county programs. She said finding money for preservation is going to take a multipronged approach that includes making sure developers "pay their fair share."

Baroni also supports such measures and pointed to his previous backing of the Global Warming Response Act, an aim to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and the Highlands Act, which addresses water-resources protection.

How would they reverse the trend of New Jersey losing large companies to other states?

Singh reiterated her interest in luring stem-cell research companies, an action she said would add millions of dollars in tax revenue and tens of thousands of jobs. She said such businesses could be attracted with special incentives and grants.

Baroni said businesses are leaving because New Jersey's income, sales and business taxes have risen so high. He said the business tax needs to be lowered by trimming the "pork" from state spending. He said tax incentives need to be offered along so-called "Einstein's alley," the corridor bordered by high-technology businesses and Princeton and Rutgers universities.

In opening and closing remarks, Baroni told the audience he has remained nonpartisan during his tenure in politics, even if it angered fellow party members.

"Candidates usually talk about change," he said. "But I'm not going to change. I'm going to continue to work hard. I said I'd stay independent, and I have."

Singh said she fought for residents as ratepayer advocate. Unlike her opponent, she said, she opposes President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security and supports bringing home America's troops from Iraq as soon as possible.

While one audience member shouted out the debate was "a sham" after being told the public could not ask questions, others found the event positive.

"I thought they both gave good substantive answers," said South Brunswick resident Gwen Southgate.

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