GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE FINDS ACCORD ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, SALARY REFUSAL

The Major-Party Players Also Said They Would Fire The 800 Or So
Appointees In State Patronage Jobs

EWING, N.J. - U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine and Douglas Forrester would
sign a medical-marijuana law if elected governor, and neither would
accept their $175,000 governor's salary, they said in a debate last night.

The 90-minute debate, sponsored by Millennium Radio News and heard on
New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW-FM) and other Millennium-owned stations,
featured a mix of moderator and listener questions. It was the second
of three head-to-head matchups scheduled before the Nov. 8 election.

Corzine and Forrester fielded questions on a variety of predictable
topics - including property taxes, school funding, and the
beleaguered state pension system - and a few queries on
less-anticipated issues.

Both said they would sign a medical-marijuana bill if it reached the
governor's desk. One such proposal has stalled in the Legislature.

"With respect to providing relief under doctor's supervision, under
the proper circumstances, I think we need to provide all medical
resources, and that includes what is emerging now with regard to this
particular application," said Forrester, the Republican nominee. "So,
yes, I'm very much open to that."

Said Corzine, the Democratic nominee: "I believe medical marijuana is
something that, if a doctor prescribes it, we need to do what is in
the best interest of the patient. It's a tragedy when you're not
giving the best medication to an individual."

The two multimillionaires said they would refuse the governor's
salary, but would do so in different ways. Corzine would follow New
York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's example by accepting $1, while
Forrester said he would donate the full amount to charity.

"The reason I want this job is that I have experienced the American
promise... . I want to make sure every child in the state of New
Jersey has that," said Corzine, who said he has not taken his Senate salary.

"It's not the monetary interest that drives me to run for governor,"
Forrester said. "This is a thankless job. But I think it's a very
rewarding job, because New Jersey is such a wonderful place."

The candidates fielded other pocketbook questions. Both knew within
cents that a gallon of gasoline costs $2.74 and knew, roughly, what
they pay annually in auto insurance.

The candidates also agreed to fire 800 or so political appointees who
remain in patronage jobs on the state payroll, and both agreed the
Newark hockey arena should not be subsidized with taxpayer money.

Dozens of supporters of the candidates gathered outside the studio,
in Ewing Township, before the debate. The two camps got within a few
feet of each other as they waved signs and chanted.