Famous political dynasties. We want to know that the voices in south jersey heard buried and i r guess im the person to do that. Amazing my family here. It is my home. My whole family lives area. I understand what is happening in our community. The seat for the secondd Congressional District in jersey. I walked in and target pregnant people in south jersey are good hardworking middleclass people. They want somebody is going to have their backs. That is me. To be jeff, we really need to have a vision of what we want this country to look like Going Forward to prayed for me it means focusing on social justice and moving out of the coronavirus and George Floyds death, that it will be really important to focus on the values of our community. The have the chance to square off on covid19 recovery, the economy, Climate Change, placing in healthcare and all of the issues critical to the people of south jersey. Good evening and welcome to the john f academic c good evening and welcome to the university here. In Atlantic City. Forr the next 60 minutes or so, we will have a spirited and informative debate between Second District congressional candidates sitting republican r congressman jeff and derek democrat amy kennedy. Followed by postevent analysis. This is that Stockton University for mom writer this seeming dissenters executive director john. That was asking the questions, or lookalikes from mj spotlight news, and direct law parked. Senior correspondent david cruz. And myself. Before he turned over to our moderator, please know we are doing this debate live and in person. There is no live studio audience layer crew and guests of the candidates are in the room. We are following all covid19 protocols. As outlined by Stockton University in the department of health. Everyone involved assigned a fullfledged and more masks up until the start of this broadcast. All else in the room will wear a mask for the duration of the debate. Lets begin. N. John. Thank you briand again welcome to Stockton University. Use centers pleased to partner with the intake and the new jersey spotlight news to bring your tonights debate in new jersey Second District. Home a form that the most important house races in the nation. Here are ground rules for tonight. Our panel pose questions for the candidate on a variety of h isss. Candidates willnd have 90 seconds to respond. And will be allowed 30 seconds for followups where appropriate. There are no opening statements. Each candidate will give a one minute closing statement. Candidates please respect the time limits of which you agreed. And to maximize the number of questions, Alice Timmons will feature fastpaced round of questions requiring 32nd responses from each candidate and no rebuttals. Our first topic involves the coronavirus pandemic. Briand f. Thank you and welcome to you both. First question. The day since President Trump covid19 diagnosis, more than 30 white house officials staffers and others in his area tested positive info and pruning chris christie. Was it irresponsible for him to travel and hold events knowing that he was was in people. I dont know how much exactly he knew didnt know but obviously when somebody has been exposed and they know they have been, they have the responsibility to let the doctor whatever Health Professional no. And i believe ever coming to a time now where we are going to be much moree proactive about making sure that those types of things dont happen. We also know which is interesting that covid19 if youre younger, if you are healthcare, etc. Does not affecting nearly as much as people had originally thought. So some things are looking better on the horizon. There still requiring being careful. Ms. Kennedy how would you rate federal governments response to the coronavirus pandemic. Thank you for having me tear tonight. I would love to tell you that everything was moving forward it in a way where we can just not be cautious in the way that we have had to be tonight. But were six months and were still really struggling. Immersing an uptick in cases. Is really the mixed messaging that we saw throughout this pandemic about how dangerous the virus would be and whether or not we should have masks or not wear masks. The distribution of the ppe left so much unclear the American People. Honesty is have a real plan. And make sure that we are thinking about how were going to distribute the vaccine by going to bailey rated that we can soon reopen and get back to life. What is the same question. How would you rate the federal governments response to the pandemic. For small we have to understand how the started. It did start in china. We have to understand that there cdc would not allowed to go into china and really evaluate what is happening. In fact we dont know if itt really came from a market or laboratory. I believe probably came from a laboratory. We dont know if this is even genetically mutated. What we do know is fortunately, the president did say they would be travel restrictions quite early on. And afterwards travel restrictions from europe forgetting at the time he was called racist, he was said that he was unify week because he did that. Think goodness he dead afraid that was a very important thing to do. We are moving rapidly towards a vaccine. We will have a very soon. For moving rapidly with new and better therapeutics. Policing that now. Theyre already being used by physicians. So think all in all, is a said before, i know we still have to be careful. And we do. But we have light at the end of the tunnel. This is going to get better. America is going to move forward it. The world is going to move forward to. This is infected the entire world. Speech of ms. Kennedy and when i asked the question to you. The democratic candidate joe biden, has expressed a willingness to go into a National Walk out necessary. Do you support or oppose such an action. Ninety seconds to you. Were not going to need to take action like that. Here we have seen really high numbers and parts of the country and in parts of the state and lower numbers in other areas. I would like to see it happen in the way that is more precise. But thats going to require Rapid Testing and tracing. And until those are in place, for going have to handle it in the way that means americans will be safe. And that will help us get back on track as soon as possible. Breonna so to clarify, the Vice President were elected president and call for National Lockdown. Your position would be what. Breonna i dont think he would call on a National Lockdown and lisette were absolutely necessary. And at that point i would hope is falling for direction of scientists and doctors. Breonna thank you. These next questions are about federal pandemic relief. Speech of ms. Kennedy, spent six months since Congress Passed the cares act and the president ended the negotiations with democrats to speak. But then said he was on bills giving another 1200 stimulus payment to most americans. And more aid to airlines and businesses do you support another round of federal aid or stimulus funding and if so, how much and where should it go. Amy kennedy im absolutely in support of that number when hes going to approve this measure great immune of the families in south jersey have been struggling just looking at the rise in demand for the Community Food bank for example. Before having a difficult time just putting food on their tables. We know that t unemployment at e high, we need to get people back to work but in the meantime, that necessary stimulus is going to have to be the bridge there. Its not just the airlines but it is our Small Businesses that have really struggled. I would like to see that stimulus go to the Small Businesses and working families as well as our frontline workers. Breonna this is essentially the same question to you. Do supportt another round of stimulus funding and if so, how much and where should it go. Sure, the amounts canou be worked out in this you know, it varies from 6 billion to over trillion rather. Two oh 2 trillion. But that is not the issue, here is thel real issue. We shouldve done this already and we couldve done it already. The reason is not done already is because of politics. Because we had a bill for covid19 and in the belt put certain measures that were so unacceptable to so any conference people including democrats what was in the bill. Squeezed in there, they should not have been. It was actually the release of several prisoners who were violent prisoners. That would be part of the bill. Murderers, rapists and others. How could you vote for that. There was the funding of those who were undocumented residents in this country. And they would actually get funded with the 2500 stimulus and are mark and again without even being residents. When we dont even get it for our 17 yearold kids. There was a Green New Deal which would cost trillions of dollars ultimately. So all of these other political ideas and packages for squeezed and when most of the bill e was good. So at the end of the day when we left, did not get done. And we are still four we are. I want to go back. I want to get it done. I want to get built on. In a bipartisan level. With all of us working together not putting in the nonsense. We can argue about the other stuff later. But weee need to have the relie. Breonna thank you. This next question. Have a quick followup for you if thats okay. Theres some republicans calling the stimulus a bailout. The something that you agree . With. s of course we need the money. So depends on how you do that. I believe in helping. The story dont believe and i do believe and i believe that the state should be helped accountable for epast practices and work very irresponsible in the way they budgeted and what they did. Without a doubt. But i also think the expenses that they have due to the covid19 absolutely should be coveredid and they should be helped freedom that we just cant bail them out because they didnt run their state right other parade is that something we have to go through statebystate. Breonna thank you. Next question is about election security. Breonna this question is for both of the candidates. President trump is called into question the validity of the election. He contends there is widespread voter fraud. In particular to vote by mail. But without providing proof read how confident are you in the security of this years election and the validity of the results. Im hopeful but i am worried. For me tell you, talk to the postmasters. Covid19 person and we w can go out in the stret and just talked to a regular folk. Every one of them will tell you that they either have had an experience or know somebody is an express with that gotten extra ballots in the mail, Peoples Movement dont live there anymore. People have passed away. People who live in other states. That is not good and we are sending life ballots in the mail, millions of them. Not expressed into the governor. And i would right now openly say what we shouldve done is even had maybe monday and tuesday and wednesday voting by machines, in the middle of that vote on tuesday beginning vote on monday. In the end of the alphabet vote on wednesday. You can have the space he couldve had the precautions. You couldve done everything the dright way. The people would go and vote in press the button and note they do the right thing. Traditional vote by mail is fine because you have to make a request. Right now were displaying balanced other british honestly, we dont need President Trump to tell a separate all you need to do is hard families and friends and i guarantee that they will tell you andhe even happen in te primary that theyre getting all kinds of ballot males and they dont the coming from. Speech of ms. Kennedy. Same question s. Amy kennedy i am excited that we are among the states that are making sure that everybody will be safe and able to participate in the process. I think the primary was a great example of why the system marks. We saw an increase in turnout. The most 50 percent higher than ever in the history of district to. The people participated, both democrats and republicans. I am thinking that people want to vote in person, they have an option. They can do that right if they needed 200 in the mail, thats an option for them. And theres also the secure drop boxes whichha we know there is tenth in each county at a minimum. So i feel that this is really a good path forward and it also means that everybody will have a paper ballot. It helps us with the idea of interference from any type of form government as well because paper ballots are secure. In the narrative the President Trump has been pushing i thank you so destructive. Breonna th quick followup 30 seconds if you would. There was an incident just last week open county where these ballotsou were found among other male in stornoway. Fairly quickly found the postal employee who they think was responsible. Does that prove there may be some sort of worries that we should have about ballots getting where they need to go. I think voice within election we should be very cautious of any people to report is Something Like that is happening. But if this is a more secure method is being used in other states and has been for a long time. Breonna 30 seconds if you would. Even estate legislator for an awful long time. So i think you i know how the system works. Enough safeguards in ourys systems to prevent a person from mailing or from putting twice. There absolutely were and even the system that we had, we all spoke about in the legislator how actually there should be at back up on the machines. Im sure your card that. Machines are even good enough. There a whole lot better than all of the paper ballots there are floating out there. Look what happened in paterson, and other locations. You just mentioned one of them. Telling you, if you know anecdotally, people who are telling you that they are getting ballots from all of the place for people who arent even a flight, you know that something is wrong. This is a mistakeke in the wrong thing to do. Thesese next questions invole political ideology. Welcome candidates. It among the university poll. He found this make the nearly half the voters in your district were bothered either a little bit or a lot by your party switch. We got a lot of questions on this from viewers. Heres one of them. What hee stated voters who voted for you as a democrat in the previous election and feel betrayed by your switch to the republican party. Thank you. First ball on have to disagree with the pole a little bit. The funny business and ive seen a lot of different balls and enough a lot of stuff for you to walk the streets and i and ive had a tremendous amount of support. Our own internal polling does not show that it all. Which is really weird how different did this. So i would say this. People voted for me because of who i am. My whole career has been based upon the fact that i was not so concerned about republicans and democrats predicts concern about standing up and for fighting and for believing in the people in south jersey who often dont get their fair share. People did not vote for me just because i was a democrat in fact, in my legislature district, their whole lot more republicans and democrats im probably more republicans voted for me the democrats. Sub voting for the individual person, not just for the party alone. No biden i think that people know how i am. The knew what i stand for. They will vote for or against me on that basis. Let me follow up. In the oval office and pledged your undying support to President Trump rdp system by that. What thatea means is that nothing avoid to agree with him everything. Weve already had disagreements, good discrete months. Nt solid policy issues and voted differently when we have voted not explain house of representatives. Seven very independent i will continue to do so. What it meant is that this up for the presidency that i support bring some of the things that he has done about a strong america, america that really can stand up and his number one in Energy Production in america that has its own supply chains and america really supports education, market will fight for the environment. And its military and other things as well. Thank you. Ms. Kennedy, you come from a family wellknown. Youve married into family with a wellknown political name. But you yourself have never held elective office. I expect to get anything done with no elected political experience. Amy kennedy thank you david. This is really going back to the heart of why i am here. And it is because i was raised in this county in this district. My family has lived here for four generations. I put Public School and raising my own five kids here. And it work as a Mental Health advocate trying to make sure that we are improving lives. And i think that people will really support that kind of lived experience because i can bring a voice my own community to this position. So this followup question comes from a viewer. It pertains to brief on the political spectrums. If youre asked, are there any issues with your partys president ial candidate joe biden, i wish you disagree. Thirty seconds. Thank you. Amy kennedy letting one last night, i came up was on fracking. And i was disappointed to hear that comment and of course it was something that weve heard a lotwa about. And odysseus moving towards greener energy. And i think that was a setback. Ceo agreed that there should be fracking. Amy kennedy i do not think that we should be encouraging fracking. Then the speech to Republican National convention, you said you switched parties because the Democratic Party had been too far to the left targeted and they now support a radical socialist agenda. Was specifically do you thank you so radical and socialist about the Democratic Part