You can see by the photo above Bronxtalk host Gary Axelbank is on the left, with 87th A.D. candidates Daniel Figueroa III (center), and Luis Sepulveda (right) as all are smiling before the debate took place. As the countdown to air time approached Mr. Axelbank broke the tension by telling some of the highlights of the 35 previous debates that were held on the show. No phone calls to the show are allowed during a debate, as one year there were several callers attacking one candidate in what appeared to be staged by the other candidate.
The first question was about being a Bronx Democrat that both candidates answered similarly. On the question of what makes a good elected official Sepulveda mentioned his good working relationship with elected officials such as Bronx B.P. Ruben Diaz Jr., Senator Jeff Klein, Councilwoman Anabel Palma all who cover parts of the 87th A.D. Figueroa countered by saying "elected officials are not doing the best job that they can". Sepulveda spoke of the 21 years of his community service helping many people at no cost in matters of law, giving the example of the renovation of the #6 Parkchester elevated subway station that was done without full handicap access, and how he is suing the MTA for an elevator. Figueroa claimed that it has been only two years that Sepulveda has been doing that.
On the question of the non reappointment of 14 members of Community Board #9 Figueroa said they were active in the community who voted against a project that B.P. Diaz wanted passed. Sepulveda replied by saying that one would have to ask B.P. Diaz that question not him. Figueroa then said that Sepulvedas Communication Director Kenneth Thomas was appointed to CB9, and that would be a conflict of interest. Sepulveda countered by saying Mr. Thomas is highly qualified for the community board, sent in an application, and was placed on the board. I became a little puzzled when Figueroa reiterated that it would be a conflict of interest by Mr. Thomas, or was he saying that he knew that Sepulveda is going to win and is going to hire Mr. Thomas as an assembly staffer?
On the question of "Gay Marriage" Sepulveda tried to skirt the question by saying that Gay Marriage is already a law in New York Where as Figueroa tried to go after Sepulveda by saying that two years ago Sepulveda did not take a position on the issue. Figueroa said that he was was Pro Gay Marriage, and Sepulveda countered that he has helped many people in the gay community, and that the Stonewall Democrats have endorsed him.
On the question of low voter turnout Figueroa said that 9 out of 10 people in the district do not vote, and there is a huge disconnect between the voters and their elected officials. Sepulveda said that you have to register people to vote, get to know the voters in the district, and that he has knocked on over 15,000 doors.
In what turned out to be brief closing statements Figueroa said that he has been in the district for 25 years, knows all the parts of the district, and the issues. Sepukveda said that he is a person that gets things done, mentioned some union, a few elected officials, and the Bronx Democratic organization who have endorsed his candidacy, and ended by saying that he wants to bring new jobs to the district by bringing new businesses to the district.
It appeared to me that candidate Figueroa was more the aggressor and candidate Sepulveda was more laid back and professional, especially when Figueroa tried to go after one of Sepulveda's campaign workers by saying that he has a conflict of interest when it does not exist. After the debate I spoke to each side who felt they were the winner in the debate.
To see the 87th A.D. debate from Monday Night click here , and decide for yourself.
Next Mondays debate of the candidates from the 80th A.D. has been rescheduled, and we will have the date and time for you as soon as we get it.
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