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Democratic Debate Focuses On 7-0

By Newsradio 88 Staff

Democratic mayoral candidates focused on an alleged case of police torture during a debate in which all four participants focused more on attacking incumbent Mayor Rudolph Giuliani than distinguishing themselves from one another.

Three of the four candidates made police brutality the prime example of what they called Giuliani's failure of leadership.

Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger said in the Tuesday night debate that if elected, she would work to make her name synonymous with stable neighborhoods and high educational standards, "instead of being chanted during acts of unspeakable brutality."

Messinger was referring to a statement -- "This is Giuliani time" -- that investigators say police officers made as they allegedly beat and sodomized Haitian immigrant Abner Louima in a Brooklyn stationhouse on Aug. 9.

Messinger's Democratic opponents -- City Councilman Sal Albanese, the Rev. Al Sharpton and engineer Eric Ruano-Melendez -- also touched on the Louima case, with each calling for better screening of police recruits and an investigation of the causes of police brutality.

Participation in the forum, which was held at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, was mandatory for candidates who wish to receive public funds for their campaigns. The Democratic primary will be held Sept. 9.