Earlier this month, Anthony Cappola announced he was dropping his candidacy for a state Assembly seat when a book he once wrote filled with racial and ethnic slurs was unearthed
TRENTON -- Earlier this month, it appeared Anthony Cappola would no longer be running in New Jersey's state Assembly elections this year.
The Republican candidate dropped his bid for a seat in north Jersey's 38th District after a book he wrote a dozen years ago filled with racial and ethnic slurs was unearthed. And his party was waging a legal battle to get a replacement candidate on the ballot.
But less than three weeks later, the GOP's fight to replace him has failed and Cappola has revived his campaign. And now, he's causing a stir by announcing he will take part in the race's scheduled debate Wednesday night.
It's the latest chapter in what has suddenly become the weirdest race in the Assembly elections -- which top the ticket in New Jersey this year -- with two weeks until Election Day.
"I have nothing to hide," Cappola, 41, told Politico New Jersey on Tuesday. "I have been thoroughly vetted out there in the public. I've been apologetic sincerely about it. And what I did in my 20s -- it's a raunchy, insensitive book. ... I am really looking forward to the debate."
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Cappola -- who also resigned his seat on the River Edge council amid the book controversy -- did not return a message from NJ Advance Media seeking comment Tuesday.
But his former running mate, Mark DiPisa, said Tuesday he will boycott the debate if Cappola participates. The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Bergen County and is scheduled for Wednesday night at Paramus High School.
DiPisa, a Hasbrouck Heights attorney, said in a statement that Cappola "is not a legitimate candidate in this race, and I refuse to validate his candidacy by sharing the stage with him."
Cappola and DiPisa are running against Democratic incumbents Tim Eustace and Joseph Lagana in the 38th District, which includes parts of Bergen and Passaic counties.
The race had been considered one of the few in the state in which Republicans had a legitimate shot at picking up seats in the Assembly, the lower house of the state Legislature. Republicans are hoping to gain seats in the house, which is currently controlled by Democrats, 48-32. The state Senate is also controlled by Democrats.
But Cappola announced Oct. 1 that he was quitting the race after his 2003 book "Outrageous!" came to light. The self-published book includes rants against homosexuals, women, Muslims, Asians, John Tesh, and Britney Spears, among other subjects.
Though the deadline had passed to remove Cappola's name from the ballot, Republicans filed a last-ditch lawsuit to replace him with Fernando Alonso, a lawyer from Oradell.
The party -- which would have to shoulder the cost to get new ballots printed -- dropped the suit last week after realizing that would cost $200,000.
That meant Cappola's name will remain on the ballot next to DiPisa's. And Cappola said he returned to the campaign trail to clear his name.
He told The Star-Ledger this week that his book was inspired by his fandom of a shock-rock radio legend when he was younger.
"I was really into Howard Stern," Capolla said. "I grew up. I'm not the same person. I went and apologized in private to select people, especially my lesbian neighbor. I DJ at gay weddings. I'm not a racist. I'm not a bigot. I know what's in my heart."
Bob Yudin, chairman of the Republican Party in Bergen County, was vague when asked about the flap over Cappola's participation in Wednesday's debate.
"Mr. Cappola submitted a letter withdrawing his candidacy," Yudin said. "He is still on the ballot because the withdrawal came after the deadline to finalize the ballot. The (local party) nor I have anything else to say."
Barbara King, vice president for voter services for the League of Women Voters of Bergen County, said Cappola is allowed to participate in the debate because his name is still on the ballot.
King added that it's "unfortunate" DiPisa has decided not to take part -- but noted there will be a seat on the stage reserved for him. She said DiPisa can also submit a statement that the moderator would read at the event.
"It would be interesting to hear Mr. DiPisa's stance on the issues, as it would be interesting to hear any candidate's stance on the issues," King said. "It's unfortunate this issue has caused District 38 to be of a greater interest instead of looking at the issues."
Ben Dworkin, a political science professor at Rider University, said the race will now be less competitive because Republicans failed in their effort to replace Cappola's name on the ballot.
"Simply by being on the ballot, every news story becomes focused on him and his writings as opposed to the issues," Dworkin said. "That's the nature of the beast."
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.