Green Party gubernatorial candidate Matt Thieke today noted the inclusion of fellow candidates Jeff Pawlowski and Hector Castillo in upcoming debates, and reiterated his request to be included in any gubernatorial debates. "While I congratulate Mr. Pawlowski and Mr. Castillo for their ability to raise campaign contributions, I must strongly condemn the notion that money alone makes a candidate "qualified" to debate his opponents. I call upon Mr. Pawlowski and Mr. Castillo, in addition to Jon Corzine and Doug Forrester, to support my request to participate in these debates. I am just as qualified as any of my opponents."

Thieke noted that the Green Party is a nationally recognized party by the FEC, has elected over 200 candidates to public offices throughout the U.S., and has run candidates in New Jersey each of the last eight years, including gubernatorial candidates in 2001 and 1997. "The Green Party and I have a lot of ideas," Thieke continued "isn't it in the voters' own interest to know about all the choices they have? This is supposed to be a campaign based on ideas, not on who has the most money. If we use money as the yardstick to determine who is allowed into the political process, then we are no longer a democracy but a plutocracy -- government of the wealthy."