2nd District Assembly Debate Draws Full House of Voters, Other Candidates and Elected Officials

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and The Press of Atlantic City co-hosted a 2nd District Assembly debate; between Republican incumbents Don Guardian and Claire Swift, along with Democratic challengers Joanne Famularo and Maureen Rowan.

Other candidates who meet the required campaign finance and reporting thresholds were also invited.

The lobby of Stockton's Campus Theater Center was crowded with pre-election energy as voters, other candidates for elected offices, and other elected officials started to fill the lobby as early as 6:00 p.m.

The doors opened at 6:30pm and by the debate start time of 7:00 p.m., the Campus Center Theater was full, and people were crowded along the back of the theater standing up.

The hour-long debate started with a discussion of top priorities after the election and quickly moved to energy, taxes, Donald Trump, and a wide variety of both national and local issues.

Things got particularly heated over the state takeover of The City of Atlantic City.
Although the debate was for District Assembly, Atlantic City – and indirectly Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small – were a hotly debated topic.

Mayor Marty Small and his challenger Naeem Khan debated the week before at the Stockton University, Atlantic City Campus (their debate also drew a capacity crowd.)

Atlantic City Focus attended the debate and recorded it for our readers in two parts. Clips will also be broadcast this week during The Light Morning Show on FM 91.7 WLFR between 8am and 10am.

Please feel free to watch the 2nd District Assembly debate between Republican incumbents Don Guardian and Claire Swift, and Democratic challengers Joanne Famularo and Maureen Rowan.

Part Two of The Assembly 2nd District Debate

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