Rockland Daily Staff

With Election Day approaching, pressure for a formal debate between incumbent Republican Senator Bill Weber and Democratic challenger Joe Rand has intensified over the past 24 to 48 hours, as Rockland Daily renews its efforts to bring both candidates together for a debate ahead of the closely watched 38th State Senate District election.

Rockland Daily first proposed hosting a debate between the two candidates several months ago. Now, with growing calls from community members for a formal debate, Rockland Daily has stepped up its efforts to make the event a reality, confirming a proposed date, securing a location, and reaching an agreement with Sam Hartstein, founder of Kol Yisroel, to serve as moderator.

The renewed push gained significant attention yesterday following a viral Rockland Daily video, filmed last Thursday, in which Democratic candidate Joe Rand thanked Rockland Daily for proposing the debate and expressed his willingness to participate.

The video generated strong attention and inquiries about the status of the proposed debate, as calls for both candidates to face one another in a formal debate is gaining demand in the Monsey Community.

Following the video, Rockland Daily publicly announced that it has proposed October 20 as the date for the debate. However, Senator Weber’s campaign informed Rockland Daily that the proposed date would not work, prompting Rockland Daily to offer an alternative date.

In the latest response, Rand’s campaign confirmed directly to Rockland Daily that it is willing to commit to any new date, time, and location for the proposed debate, making clear that scheduling would not stand in the way of its participation.

Rockland Daily is now awaiting a response from Weber’s campaign regarding the alternative arrangements, with hopes that a date acceptable to both candidates can be finalized.

Meanwhile, Rockland Daily has confirmed that Sam Hartstein, founder of Kol Yisroel, a respected community organization that has worked with individuals across different political perspectives, has agreed to moderate the proposed Rockland Daily debate and oversee a fair, unbiased, and professional debate in which both candidates will have an equal opportunity to present their positions.

A location has already been arranged for the debate, and Rockland Daily plans to livestream the event, allowing residents throughout the district to watch the candidates address the issues directly.

While Senator Weber has pointed to previous forums and appearances involving the candidates, the renewed calls from community members have specifically focused on a formal debate, where both candidates would face the same questions and have an opportunity to respond directly to each other’s positions.

Unlike separate candidate appearances or traditional forums, a formal debate would provide voters with the opportunity to hear both candidates address the issues side by side, allowing residents to better understand their differences and priorities before Election Day.

With preparations already underway, Rockland Daily remains ready to host the debate and continues working toward securing a date that accommodates both campaigns.

As the November election approaches, Rockland Daily remains committed to providing residents of the 38th State Senate District with an opportunity to hear directly from both candidates in a fair, accessible, and professionally moderated debate.