TUF - Candidates' Debate

TUF advocates Candidate Debate/Forum on FTTV-25

Sept 30, 2008 - Tomorrow night TUF will tape a debate between Freeholder and US Congress Candidates. If all goes well it should be aired soon on FTTV-25. Also TUF has received information that FTTV is cablecasting on Verizon FiOS TV on Channel 34.
Oct 16, 2007 - Finally the cable cast of Franklin's first cablecast candidate debates.
Jul 5, 2007 - After almost 2 years of fighting to get what we initially thought was going to be a straightforward issue the Council, on June 12th, 2006 passed the Resolution Regarding General Election Information On Township Media. This will allow the Township to televise a candidates debate on FTTV-25.

After all of the disagreement on this issue it passed not with a fight or a grand discussion but with of all things, in the consent agenda. What lead to this general acceptance? Plainly and simply the nature and make-up of the Council is changing. Much of this is do to the change of leadership in the Democratic party. Initially only Brian Levine supported debates on FTTV but now it passed without objection.

Franklin is clearly improving. In three years we've gone from no government meetings being televised to the televising of Council meetings, Planning Board meetings, School Board meetings, School Board election debates and now Council election debates. On way or another TUF has been involved in all of these. Soon we will start looking into televising Zoning Board meetings.
May 15, 2006 - At the April 25th Council meeting TUF's Phil Kramer pointed out that Deputy Mayor Ashley-Williams and Council persons McKenzie, Ritchie and Regan attended the BOE "Meet the Candidates Night". (Mayor Levine was also there.) Kramer took their attendance as a tacit approval of those proceedings and asked Council to speak again about their opinion about a similar event, including televising it, for the 2007 election. Mayor Levine again approved such an event and for the first time publicly Mr. Vassanella, Mr. Regan and Ms. Ashley-Willaims voiced approval of some kind of similar event. Mr. Regan attributed his change of opinion to Mr. Kramer pointing out the success of the BOE night.
So far only Mayor Levine supports a Debate/Forum while Township Attorney Rainone says it's illegal.
Oct 30 2005 - In his own words Township Attorney Louis Rainone defends his stance against candidate debates being televised on Franklin's Government Access Channel, FTTV-25. The majority of Mr. Rainone's comments were from the Oct 11th Township Council meeting. You will first hear Mayor Levine introduce a meeting item. you will then hear Mr. Rainone speak with comments of TUF's Phillip Kramer interlaced - 16:18 Windows 2.4Mb RealAudio 4.0Mb
Oct 23, 2005 - Lucretia Cortelyou's Letter to the editor.
Aug 9, 2005 - Two versions of a Star-Ledger Article on the debates. Regardless of your opinion on the debates reading the two versions is very educational about the journalistic process.