(New York, NY) City Council Candidates in Manhattan’s District 5 (Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island) debated on NY1’s Road to City Hall tonight, a 20-minute debate moderated by Errol Louis that will be rebroadcast at 10:38PM. The debate between candidates Ben Kallos and Micah Kellner focused on issues important to the district like how opposing the Marine Transfer Station and how best to improve quality of life for residents along the Second Avenue Subway — as well as the sexual harassment allegations that have scarred Kellner’s campaign.
During the debate, Kellner
- Walked back on his original statement admitting to the seriousness of his “inappropriate” and “wrong” behavior, instead calling it “childish.”
- Denied admitting to sexual harassment, despite admitting to making unwanted advances to an employee. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines sexual harassment as including “unwelcome sexual advances…and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” His advances created such a hostile work environment that the employee came forward with complaints, after which Kellner retaliated by making life horrible for the staffer, according to The Daily News. Kellner’s original admission to the New York Times reads: “Over four years ago, for a few weeks while I was still single, I exchanged instant messages with a female member of my staff that were flirtatious. It was inappropriate. I was wrong and it was stupid. When I was told that my staffer felt the messages were unprofessional, I immediately stopped and regretted placing her in that position. I was sorry then and I am sorry now.”
- Derided the sources who went public about the multiple complaints of sexual harassment in his Assembly office as having an agenda.
- Failed to address the direct question of how it would have made him feel to be a young government employee told by a boss that they were merely hired for their looks, or receiving unwanted comments on parts of their body, as the allegations contend.
Ben Kallos has been the Executive Director of a leading good government group, attorney, Policy Director for Mark Green and Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Jonathan Bing. Learn more about his run for City Council District 5 at http://KallosForCouncil.com.
