I'm running for Hudson County Executive, and the election is just five weeks away, on Tuesday, November 8th. My opponent has refused to have a televised debate with me, even though the chairman of the freeholder board suggested we have one.

There's only one reason he refuses to debate me: he's taking your vote for granted and he doesn't want to run the risk that he'll lose the debate and be exposed for his failures in office.

A public dialogue of the issues and the candidates is necessary in a democratic society. You deserve to know as much as you can about the candidates and where they stand and what they have done or failed to do.

My opponent, the incumbent, has failed on every issue on which he's run as county executive: corruption and ethics, open space, affordable housing, and consolidation of government. What's more, unemployment in our county is consistently higher than the national average, and median family incomes are 2/3rds the New Jersey average.

I by contrast have served my country honorably three times: as a naval officer on an aircraft carrier out of Japan, a law clerk to a federal judge in NYC, and an attorney for the Commerce Department in Washington, DC. I'm ready to lead our county as its next county executive, and I ask your support.

Tell my opponent you demand he be held accountable and that he agree to debate me in the upcoming weeks before the election.