WILLOWBROOK — District Attorney Dan Donovan and Councilman Vincent Gentile sparred over several topics in their only live televised debate on Tuesday night, including the nuclear deal with Iran and the federal minimum wage.
During the debate, hosted by NY1 and the Staten Island Advance in advance of the May 5 election to replace disgraced former Rep. Michael Grimm, Donovan cast the Democrat Gentile as an ineffective Council member who wants to raise taxes.
Gentile took several shots at the Republican's record as the borough's top prosecutor — including not bringing any charges for contractors who scammed Sandy victims.
Gentile called into question why Donovan fought so hard to keep testimony in the fatal Eric Garner case sealed when in 2012 he sought to lift the secrecy in another grand jury trial.
"If he wasn't concerned about the witnesses in that case, then one has to argue what concern does he have in [Garner's]," Gentile said. "Secrecy breeds suspicion."
Donovan said he could not remember the case Gentile referred to, but secrecy needs to be kept to help convince people to serve as witnesses in trials.
"We have a very difficult time to get witnesses to testify in any cases," Donovan said.
For his part, Donovan said Gentile's "answer to everything is to tax" and called into question his political career in the City Council.
"Gentile has little clout, has a lackluster presence. He is not especially powerful, he is the lone voice of the failed status quo," Donovan said.
Gentile answered that his refusal to vote to raise taxes did not win him any favors with the former mayor or council speaker.
In a spot where candidates asked each other a question, Donovan was seemingly caught off guard when Gentile asked him what the federal minimum wage is.
Donovan dodged the question and said it should be as high as it can be without hurting small businesses. The federal minimum wage is $7.25, which Gentile has supported raising to $13.
Discussing the nuclear deal with Iran, both candidates said it should hinge on Iran recognizing Israel as a country. Donovan said he would oppose the deal if he was elected, while Gentile said it was a good framework.
The candidates also talked about ongoing Hurricane Sandy recovery, transportation needs in both Staten Island and Brooklyn and Staten Island's heroin epidemic. They were also asked if they've smoked marijuana (they have) and who should have a Staten Island Ferry named after them?
Gentile said former assemblyman and chairman of the Staten Island Democratic Party John Lavelle deserved to have his name on a boat, while Donovan, after a pause, said Michael Bloomberg.
The special election is on May 5.
