Citing lack of cooperation by Singh, NJ PBS cancels second GOP gubernatorial debate

NJ PBS has cancelled a Republican gubernatorial debate set for Wednesday evening after Hirsh Singh refused to be part of a virtual form that did not have him sharing a stage with rival Jack Ciattarelli.

“Due to Mr. Singh’s refusal to participate and comply with the Covid testing requirement that is part of NJ PBS production protocol … we are unable to send a member of our crew to him for the debate production,” said Jamie Kraft, the senior managing editor of NJ Spotlight News. “Unfortunately, we must cancel the debate.”

Kraft said that Singh “refused to confirm his participation” in an email sent by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission before a 4 PM deadline.

The letter sent from ELEC this afternoon told Singh that NJ PBS, as the debate sponsor, was “mandated by statute and regulation to determine the date, time, location and rules for conducting the debates.”

“When you certified and filed the Form G-1A, you indicated that you intended to participate in the debates and acknowledged that the timing, location and rules are determinations made by the sponsor and agreed to those terms and conditions of participating,” the ELEC official said in an email to Singh.

While Ciattarelli is required to take part in two debates as a condition of receiving matching funds under the state’s gubernatorial matching funds program, Singh merely qualified as a result of his self-financing and has no legal obligation to participate.

“The action taken by Mr. Singh regarding the NJPBS Spotlight debate is very disappointing and regrettable,” said Jeff Brindle, the ELEC executive director. “Healthy debate between candidates has always been a foundation of the Gubernatorial Public Financing Program and Mr. Singh’s reneging on his commitment to participate in two interactive debates is a first in the history of the program. The Commission has always believed that robust debate is in the public interest.”

ELEC said that Singh made several attempts to change the logistics and location of the Wednesday debate.

“At this time, the rules, as originally set by NJ PBS, are in effect, and ELEC requests that you cooperate fully and provide the necessary information to NJ PBS to allow the debate to proceed as scheduled and planned,” the email told Singh, who did not respond.

Instead, Singh launched at attack on the public television network.

“PBS refused to hold an in person debate, like the 101.5 debate the night before,” Singh said in a statement. “We found a third party who was willing to host and pay for the entire costs of a debate in person and liberal PBS News still rejected it.”

The Ciattarelli camp slammed Singh for being afraid of a debate.

“Hirsh Singh’s weak decision to back out of this debate — despite previously agreeing to it and knowing all of the rules well in advance — has nothing to do with medical freedom or vaccines or masks,” said Stami Williams, a spokesperson for Ciattarelli. “Hirsh made up these phony excuses to cover up the fact that he has no answer for why he supported Barack Obama, why he shares donors with Hillary Clinton and Phil Murphy, why he has no plan for New Jersey, or why he called police officers terrorists and disparaged women.”

Williams said that “to defeat Phil Murphy, Republicans need a candidate with the real world experience and backbone, like Jack Ciattarelli.”

“Not a perennial campaign loser who still lives with their parents at 36 years old and doesn’t even pay property taxes,” she said.

That leaves Republicans with just one debate, set for 7 PM tomorrow on New Jersey 101.5, and not the two required under state election law.

Kraft said his station’s policy of requiring candidates to be tested for Covid before contact with his employees was included in a May 3 email detailing debate guidelines.

“PBS refused to hold an in person debate, like the 101.5 debate the night before, and is mandating a negative Covid test or proof of vaccination,” said Singh. “We found a third party who was willing to host and pay for the entire costs of a debate in person and liberal PBS News still rejected it.”

There is no record of NJ PBS demanding proof of a vaccination.

Singh claims he “found a third party who was willing to host and pay for the entire costs of a debate in person and liberal PBS News still rejected it.”

Two other candidates, former Franklin Mayor Brian D. Levine and Rev. Phil Rizzo, did not qualify for the two official debates.