Delgado Campaign Claims Those Without College Degrees Lack “Mental Capacity” to Lead

Press Release 9/24/12—

PERTH AMBOY — In a recent Delgado campaign consultant James Devine attacked Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz for being a high school graduate who failed “to take some college courses” and not “having cracked open a book” since her election. Delgado’s consultant wrote of Diaz: “A high school graduate who worked her way from bank teller to branch manager over a 20 year career could have cracked open a book, taken some college courses or otherwise expanded her mental capacity for the job but she failed to do so.”

86% of Perth Amboy residents over the age of 25 do not possess a bachelor’s or advanced degree.

“First, Mitt Romney insulted the 47% of Americans who work hard every day to make ends meet. Now failed Republican candidate Billy Delgado’s campaign insults the 86% of Perth Amboy residents who make up the fabric of this great city,” said Senator Joe Vitale. “As one of the high school graduates the Delgado campaign deems fit to insult, I would put my record of public service up against his anytime. While a Delgado surrogate was penning offensive columns, I have been busy trying to provide every single resident of the state with access to health care and a better quality of life. Life circumstances do not always afford everyone the opportunity to go to college, though a college education is something to which almost everyone may aspire. To say that I and others who did not attend college lack the ‘mental capacity’ to lead is outrageous. Billy Delgado owes me and the vast majority of the hard working residents of Perth Amboy an apology for these disgraceful remarks.”

“These comments are beyond offensive, not just to me but to the vast majority of Perth Amboy residents who are essentially being called dumb by the Delgado campaign for not graduating college,” said Mayor Wilda Diaz. “While Billy Delgado’s campaign thinks I should have spent my time as mayor taking some college courses, I have been busy making sure that every single resident of Perth Amboy – college graduate or not – has a better quality of life. Instead of ‘cracking open a book,’ I have been busy paying down our city’s debt, attracting over $600 million in new ratables and restoring ethics in government. While I have been working to turn this city around, Billy Delgado has been busy having his license to practice law suspended in two states. If that’s the kind of contrast he would like to discuss, he can bring it on.”

Law school graduate Billy Delgado had his license to practice law in New Jersey suspended in 2009 and currently has his license to practice law suspended in Pennsylvania.

His campaign consultant James Devine was arrested on domestic violence charges and jailed for failing to pay child support in recent years.