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The voice of De Anza since 1967.

La Voz News

The voice of De Anza since 1967.

La Voz News

Gubernatorial candidates square off in first of three debates

Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman engaged in the first of three scheduled debates for the 2010 California gubernatorial election. The debate aired live from UC Davis at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28.

Brown and Whitman responded to questions from a panel of three journalists during the hour. The candidates agreed to limit answers to 90 seconds and rebuttals to 30 seconds.

The debate explored the candidates’ stances on the state budget, the death penalty and strategies for decreasing the unemployment rate.

The panel probed Whitman on her voting record, before asking Brown whether he can be counted on to focus on the job of governor, rather than repeat his previous runs for president. Panelist Marianne Russ, Capital Public Radio’s bureau chief, presented a question to the candidates from a UC Davis student: “As governor, would you roll back cuts to UC, CSU and community college systems? Why or why not?”

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The debate continued with both candidates being taken to task for their harsh campaign attack ads, with neither conceding.

KCRA’s political reporter Kevin Riggs posed the hot button topic of immigration, to which Brown and Whitman’s responses were vastly different. Brown is in favor of granting citizenship to illegal immigrants, while Whitman is firmly against, citing the lack of infrared, motion sensor technology and “two good fences” as much of the problem. Then Martin Riggs focused the spotlight on accusations against Whitman for attempting to “buy the election” and whether Brown’s union ties would be an impediment to passing legislation.

Sacramento Bee reporter and political editor Amy Chance asked what the nominees intended to do about California’s water resources if elected governor.

Brown raised the issue of a peripheral canal to bring water into the state, but urged for conservation, stating, “the beneficiary has to pay if they get the water, not the general tax payer.”

Whitman tied the issue into job creation and restated her support for the water bond, saying, “we have got to do a better job of conserving water across the state, no question about it, but the water bond was the right path.”

Anchorman Gulstan Dart from KCRA moderated the debate from the Jackson Hall at UC Davis’ Mondavi Center. Throughout the debate, Whitman maintained a smiling countenance while saying “put Californians back to work” five times, committed to eliminating the factory tax and cut welfare in what she deemed has become a “welfare state.”

Jerry Brown allowed a few quips and elicited laughter from the audience, but focused on preservation of the state’s general fund, Assembly Bill 32, and making salary cuts for California leadership. Both candidates cited their own specific backgrounds as qualification for the office of governor. 

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