State Senate candidates traded accusations over ethics and taxes at an Oct. 1 forum sponsored by a Tinton Falls synagogue and the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County.

The 90-minute debate at Monmouth Reform Temple pitted incumbent Sen. Ellen Karcher of Marlboro, a Democrat, against challenger Jennifer Beck, a Republican Assemblywoman from Red Bank.

Vying for Karcher's seat in Dist. 12, which includes Monmouth and Mercer counties, Beck labeled Karcher, who took office in 2004, as beholden to Democratic Party bosses and complacent in the face of high state taxes.

Karcher, in turn, said she supported property tax rebates and that her opponent had not passed any legislation during her 18 months as a member of the Assembly.

What both candidates did agree on, however, was support for the county's large Jewish community.

"I will always be a vocal advocate for the Jewish community whenever it's appropriate," Karcher told NJ Jewish News. "In this district, we have the opportunity to participate in Jewish community events and causes, and we must do so."

Beck also expressed her support.

"I'm familiar with the state's association of Jewish federations," Beck told NJ Jewish News. "Many policy issues, such as affordable housing for senior citizens, have an impact on the members of the Jewish community who reside in Monmouth County. Policy issues serve as a link between the state's concerns and the community, and the members of the local Jewish community should be recognized as well-informed voters who have strong opinions."

The debate was moderated by Camille Terracciano of the League of Women Voters of Greater Red Bank. Questions for the candidates were submitted by many of the 100 audience members who attended the forum.

In opening statements, Beck told the audience that she represents the hope of NJ taxpayers who want to see a new, more responsible course in Trenton, while Karcher continues to represent the status quo.

Karcher said there are two distinct groups in state government.

"One group gets things done, while the other group just complains and kvetches," said Karcher, who has served in the State Senate since 2004. "I'm in the first camp that believes we can change government for the better. And I'm tenacious."

Beck said her opponent is beholden to Democratic party bosses, whom she accused of consistently blocking ethics reform in Trenton. As a result, she said, Karcher supports weak ethics reform bills and consistently votes for tax increases.

Karcher countered that no one controls her Senate votes.

"I reject the notion that anyone controls my vote," she said. "I work for the people of New Jersey, and my vote is determined by the people who elected me. It's the voters who must have a say in what we do and in what they want us to do."

Karcher added that Beck has not gotten a single bill passed during her 18 months as an Assembly member, and invoked Beck's former job as a lobbyist with Trenton-based MWW firm in saying she favors state spending when it has a positive impact on her clients. Beck, vice president of QualCare, Inc., a managed-care organization, said she has not been employed as a lobbyist for the past three years.

Beck, who took office in January 2006, said she has been a strong, vocal opponent of increased state spending, while Karcher voted for a 20 percent increase in state taxes.

Karcher, however, said she supported a state budget that increased property tax rebates that resulted in rebates of $1,000 to $2,000.

"This put at least $1,000 back in the pockets of approximately 50,000 county residents," said Karcher.

Both candidates vowed to continue their support of women's healthcare issues, including access to HPV, a vaccine for cervical cancer. The state requires distribution of information about HPV to parents and guardians and requires vaccination of seventh- to 12th-graders.

"The HPV vaccine can effectively eradicate a deadly strain of cancer," Beck said. "I have worked with the Junior League to promote this vaccine. We should be the leaders of this effort, not the followers."

Karcher, who has served on the State Senate's health and human services committee, said she has supported legislation that would prevent the denial of coverage of mammograms to women who are in a high-risk category for breast cancer. She also wants to see an expanded form of mammography coverage that would apply to younger women.

Both candidates expressed disappointment with President Bush's recent veto of a measure to renew and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

"It's disheartening that the president vetoed this vital piece of legislation," said Beck. "SCHIP provides essential funding that goes toward providing health care for many of our state's most vulnerable citizens, including 122,000 children. His decision to veto this bill means that the federal government will not pay for 10,000 children who are currently in New Jersey's FamilyCare Program but whose families exceed the new income threshold.

"However, this doesn't mean that New Jersey cannot step up to the plate and find a way to cover this critical program," Beck continued. "I know we, as a state, can fulfill the responsibility to fund children's health care by diverting a fraction of the legislative pork that is in the budget and putting it toward real priorities like this."

The candidates defended their stands on ethics reform in state government. Beck said Karcher's ethics reform bills were weak in that they helped "grandfather in" some corrupt officials, in effect preventing them from losing their pensions and enabling dual-office holders to maintain their positions.

"I've done more for ethics reform in four years than what has been done in the past 40 years," Karcher replied. "It has always been a priority, and when it comes to public officials, we've defined what criminality actually is so that there can be no misinterpretation."

Both candidates agreed that the funding process for New Jersey's poorest school districts, known as Abbott districts — the name comes from the state Supreme Court's Abbott vs. Burke decision that mandated additional funding for the poorer districts —is in need of reform.

"We're trying to move more and more toward responsible spending," Karcher said. "I voted for the governor's budget that included an increase in funding for suburban school districts for the first time in many years. I suggest that my opponent should have supported this budget."

In response, Beck said she did not support a budget that contained a 10 percent spending increase.

And the two candidates expressed concern for NJ military personnel who have concluded their tours in Iraq.

"I was opposed to the troop surge," said Karcher. "We must make sure that more healthcare options, including home health care, are available for the veterans when they return home."

Beck said she has been working with Freehold VFW to ensure that these types of programs are in place for vets who return to New Jersey.

"The men and women from our state who have served in Iraq deserve the best care when they come back," she said. "They've earned this and it must be available to them."