Rep. Michael Grimm and former City Councilman Domenic Recchia traded barbs Tuesday night in front of a lively audience at City University’s College of Staten Island in their only live televised debate.
Recchia, a Democrat, is seeking to the 11th district Congressional seat held by his Republican opponent since 2011.
The hour-long debate was carried live on NY1 and was moderated by Inside City Hall’s Errol Louis.
Like their two previous debates, one of which was taped and the other of which was not televised, Tuesday’s event included several clashes between the candidates.
Grimm frequently referenced his position as the only Republican congressman in the city, saying that he would work with the GOP majority to get things done in Congress, while Recchia would not even be at the table for those discussions as a member of the minority party.
In response, Recchia told Grimm, “You keep on saying you’re in the majority, but your party wants no part of you. You’re ineffective. You’re a minority of one.”
On the question of working with the de Blasio administration, Grimm said that he would reach across party lines to work with the mayor even though he and the mayor are ideologically opposed.
“You have to get along with others, and you don’t know how to do that. That’s the difference between you and me,” Recchia said to cheers from his supporters.
“No,” Grimm replied, “the difference between you and me is that you’re a rubber stamp for the mayor and his policies, and I’m not.”
Recchia was then asked to give an example of when he differed with the mayor on specific policy. He said he differed on the two bills designed to address stop-and-frisk, saying he did not vote for them despite the fact that the mayor supported them.
Earlier Grimm was asked whether he felt he had the proper temperament to serve in Congress following an incident in which he threatened NY1 reporter Michael Scotto. Grimm said that his behavior in that incident has been unacceptable, which was why he said he apologized for it.
“At the end of the day, I’m a United States marine and I’m tenacious,” he said to applause from his supporters.
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