ALL SAY: VOTE FOR ME

Five council candidates vying for the at-large seat in the November election battled at The Jersey Journal forum yesterday to show they are the best choice to resolve Bayonne's financial troubles.

The council candidates attending the forum at Temple Emanu-El on Kennedy Boulevard included assistant controller Debra Noble, real estate agent John Cupo, retired Bayonne police officer Leonard Kantor, Bayonne Postmaster and Councilman Terry Ruane, and businessman Ramon Veloz. The sixth candidate, Stan Marko, did not attend because of work commitments.

The candidates are competing to fill the unexpired term of Anthony Chiappone that ends June 30. Chiappone resigned from the council in April and was subsequently indicted on corruption charges. The City Council installed Ruane in May to serve until the November special election.

All the challengers agreed that Bayonne has to get a grip on its $129 million budget, property taxes, $30 million budget deficit and hundreds of millions in bonded debt.

Cupo said he would welcome having the state look at the books, and Veloz suggested declaring bankruptcy and developing a recovery plan as the only way to fix the problems.

Ruane, who blamed most of the city's financial crisis on an inherited budget deficit and poor economy, found himself having to defend his five-month record as councilman-at-large from repeated attacks by Kantor and Cupo, both of whom blasted him for approving tax increases and supporting Mayor Mark Smith's administration.

Ruane responded that his 35 years experience with the Post Office had equipped him with the managerial and decision making skills needed for office.

He defended the current administration, saying the current economy makes tax cuts unrealistic, but added that the mayor has the leadership to control expenditures by "nipping away" at the spending and the deficit.

"I can't stand here before you and say we can cut taxes," Ruane said. "I could stabilize taxes and go from there."...