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At a candidate forum hosted by the Jewish Press, Monday evening in Borough Park, the Republican candidates for mayor virtually agreed on policies such as Stop-and-Frisk, Metzitzah B’peh, school vouchers and affordable housing. But there was one issue that separated the candidates from each other – moral character.

While Mr. Lhota reflected on his experience in government and moral judgement, Mr. Catsimatidis pointed to his self-funding capability to draw a sharp contrast between his rivals and himself. Candidates who rely on campaign contribution to fund campaign are ultimately beholden to their contributors until they get reelected to office again, he argued.

The good tenure between the two main rivals ended during the closing statements. It was when Mr. Catsimatidis said he “liked” Mr. Lhota while declaring himself the most viable contender in the race. “You don’t show it,” Mr. Lhota mumbled, pointing to the flood of negative advertising recently launched by the Catsimatidis campaign. “You sure spend a lot of money to piss me off.”

“Don’t be so sensitive,” Mr Catsimatidis replied with a grin. “I’m the least sensitive guy up here, You’ve got the thinnest skin of any man I’ve ever met in my life,” Mr. Lhota shot back. “Here is where I come in,” a joyful George McDonald quipped.

Mr. Catsimatidis tried to circle back to his message.

“I believe I have an ability to win in November,” Mr. Catsimatidis continued. “So what is it all about? It’s all about winning. Having enough money and enough know-it-all to win.”

“Listen, I don’t care,” Mr. Catsimatidis told Politicker when asked what he made of Mr. Lhota’s comments at the forum. “I want the truth to be out there. I didn’t lie. Rudy got on the television and said I lied. What did I lie about?”

“I said three things. Mall cops. Guilty. Number two … he created a job for himself. He did. What was the third thing? There were three things,” he added. “Tolls?” a photographer offered.

“He raised tolls, he did!” he replied. “Why is Rudy saying I’m lying? Think about what I just said.”

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Lhota slammed Mr. Catsimatidis for being “desperate.”

“Desperate candidates do desperate things. John’s ads are chock full of mistruths and that doesn’t surprise me,” he told NYC Elects. “He even said flat out, ‘I’m going to spend as much money as I can to win,’ no matter how he wins.”

“He’s taken a scorched-earth strategy. All he’s doing is spending his money trying to impugn my integrity and quite honestly without any success,” Lhota added.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)