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Croton's Wagner, Murphy Trade Barbs At Forum

CARMEL, N.Y. -- State Senate candidates Justin Wagner and Terrence Murphy clashed at a heated candidates’ forum in downtown Carmel last week.

Justin Wagner (left) and Terrence Murphy at a forum in Carmel.

Justin Wagner (left) and Terrence Murphy at a forum in Carmel.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie

A video showing Terrence Murphy's refusal to shake Justin Wagner's hand at a candidates' forum in Carmel.

Photo Credit: Justin Wagner's campaign

One moment, in which Murphy declined to shake Wagner’s hand when the pair came on stage, was repeatedly referenced that night. Following the forum, Wagner’s campaign issued a press release noting what happening and uploaded a video of it to YouTube. The video is embedded in this story.

One of the debate’s moderators asked Murphy (R-Yorktown) about the handshake. Murphy replied by citing a negative mailer advertising campaigning against him, which included a depiction of a woman with a black eye.

“I refuse to get into his cesspool, OK,” the Republican candidate said about Wagner. “ I’m about integrity, and I’m about – I respect people.”

Murphy added that he deserves respect and accused Wagner of not giving him it.

“But he hasn’t respected me, so I won’t respect him.”

Wagner (D-Croton-On-Hudson), condemned the mailer ad, attributing it to an outside group and claimed that it did not coordinate with his campaign.

Toward the end of the forum, Murphy moved to shake Wagner’s hand and said, “My apologies, Justin.” However, he continued to criticize Wagner, claiming that the difference between himself and his opponent is “integrity.”

“Well, nothing screams ‘integrity’ like refusing to shake someone’s hand,” Wagner said moments later as part of his closing statement.

The two sharply disagreed on the SAFE Act, which is a controversial state gun-control law. Murphy was relentless in his criticism of it, highlighting its passage by the state legislature in the middle of the night. Wagner voiced his support for the SAFE Act but criticized its nighttime passage.

The two offered different viewpoints on jobs. Murphy, a Yorktown councilman, touted initiatives at the local level, such as the arrival of a Mount Kisco Medical Group office and a Costco that is planned. He also criticized Wagner’s law firm, alleging that it has represented people detained in Guantanamo Bay.

“This is what happens when you’re losing a race and you’re throwing mud at the wall,” Wagner said in response to the accusation.

The two also sharply disagreed on abortion. Murphy criticized the proposed state legislation called the Women’s Equality Act, with one of his criticisms being a claim that it would allow for a scenario in which a non-medical professional can perform an abortion.

“I will never vote for that,” he said.

Wagner disagreed with how Murphy depicted the Women’s Equality Act.

“The simple truth is, I am the only pro-choice candidate in this race.” He said.

Wagner said that politicians should put themselves between a woman and her doctor.

One area where the candidates happened to agree, however, was with the handling of the Common Core for education, sharply criticizing its implementation.

Murphy touted an anti-Common Core ballot line that he is running under for the election. He also noted his experience in dealing with it as a dad, saying “I live, breathe and eat it every night with my three little kids.”

“We have to trust our teachers, we have to trust our local schools, and Common Core does the opposite,” Wagner said. “Common Core asks for a one-size-fits-all approach to education. I think it’s wrong.”

Both candidates were also critical of corruption in Albany.

 

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