The Associated Press - Democrats Gubernatorial Candidates Have First Debate

Democrats Gubernatorial Candidates Have First Debate

JIM DAVENPORT

May 5, 2006

CLEMSON, S.C. - The three Democrats running for governor held their first debate Thursday night at the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University.

Clearwater Sen. Tommy Moore, Florence Mayor Frank Willis and Columbia lawyer Dennis Aughtry fielded questions from a panel of student and professional journalists on a number of topics, including education

Moore said solving the state's educational problems isn't as simple as throwing money at the issue. But "less money sure has not worked in this state," Moore said.

"Yes, we're for reform, we're for different ideas," Moore said. "But we're not for dismantling public education."

Aughtry continued to hammer home his idea to use casino-style gambling to bring in more money for education and health care.

But Willis said he didn't understand how to tell young people gambling is bad and then "turn around and tell them I am going to pay for your education with gambling money. ... To fully fund our education programs we don't need legalized gambling or any other kind of gambling," Willis said.

Moore doesn't like the gambling idea either. "I don't believe this state should be depending on the proceeds, or lack of proceeds of gambling to educate our children," he said.

One of the student journalists asked what the candidates thought about plans to cap tuition.

Willis said the state needs to do more to fund colleges. But he also supported making it easier for students to get into college.

"I think we need to look too at lowering the threshold for qualification for some of these scholarships," Willis said. For instance, the 1,100 requirement on an SAT for some state-lottery funded scholarships could be lowered. He said a person making a 900 or 950 "could easily qualify for one of those scholarships and do college-level work."

Aughtry's opening statement brought the first applause of the night. "We can't stand four more years of Mark Sanford," he said.

Republican Gov. Mark Sanford was the target of criticism elsewhere in the debate, too. For instance, the Democrats blamed Sanford for the state's high unemployment rate and budget cuts at the state Commerce Department that they said slowed economic development. And they said they could do a better job working with the Legislature. The GOP-controlled House and Senate have frequently been at odds with the governor.

Moore said he's built a long reputation of bringing people and ideas together.

"I believe I would never bring pigs to the Statehouse," Moore said. In 2003, Sanford carried two squirming piglets to the doors of the House chamber to protest rapid-fire overrides of his budget vetoes.

"I think you need a different personality in the Gov.'s Mansion," Aughtry said. "It begins with listening to what other people have to say."

"The governor, should be working in the Legislature to move us forward and make South Carolinians proud of our state and proud of our opportunities," Willis said.

The candidates agreed laws concerning illegal immigrants need to be enforced. Willis went further, saying that while he is sympathetic, "being sympathetic doesn't allow us to overlook the fact that the law is the law. ... We're looking at some situations in South Carolina where illegal immigrants are using our schools, they're using our health care. We're spending a lot of our funds on them. We need to enforce the law."

Anita and Ralph Stutzman of Seneca came to the debate undecided about who they'll support.

"My overriding feeling right now is they presented well," Stutzman said.

Willis did well when he got away from scripted remarks and into answering questions, Ralph Stutzman said.

But all the candidates failed on one of their most important issues - allowing prayer before public meetings.

Stutzman said the answer to that question was simple: Prayer to a specific deity is illegal at public meetings.

Prayer at public meetings should continue, Willis said, "and we ought to leave well enough alone."

"I don't have any problem with prayer," Moore said.

Moore and Willis have been campaigning since last spring to win the June 13 Democratic primary. Aughtry was a last minute entry in the contest.

Sanford has a primary challenger too - Prosperity doctor Oscar Lovelace. Most observers expect Sanford, who had more than $5 million in his re-election account as of last month, to easily defeat Lovelace.

http://www.tommymooreforgovernor.com/debate1