The organizer of a forum for public advocate candidates at Fordham Law School is disputing a report on City Room saying the G.O.P. candidate, Alex Zablocki, wasn’t invited because organizers “thought it was unlikely that he had a serious chance, as a Republican.”
When asked if this was an accurate description of his reasoning, organizer Janos Marton, a law school student, said, “I believe what I said was, 'I (we) felt that students would be most interested in seeing all of the Democratic primary candidates at the same event. Hopefully we can have a debate between the winner and Zablocki in the fall.'"
But Zablocki, who is 25 and works for State Senator Andrew Lanza, said other organizations are including him in events for public advocate candidates.
He wrote in an email, “I am meeting with Public Advocate Gotbaum at her office for and orientation and presentation” on March 30, and on “March 21 I am meeting with SEIU 32BJ for an endorsement interview.”
In a brief telephone interview, Zablocki said events shouldn’t just be held for the Democratic candidates. “I should have my voice heard throughout the process,” he said. “I will be a candidate in November and I should be invited to debates.” Then, to emphasize his point, he added, “I will be there after the primary.”
