The audience was notably vocal as Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman took their last chance to state their positions on issues, and to level criticism toward each other at Dominican University in San Rafael. A remark about a “whore” and concern about the hiring of an illegal immigrant housekeeper were addressed in this third California governor’s debate before the election, but those were not the only contentious topics on the table. Halfway through, moderator Tom Brokaw urged the audience to not be so demonstrative in the interest of time halfway through.

During a back and forth on the state property tax and capital gains tax, Brown asked Whitman, “How much would you save if these breaks were in effect this year?”

The crowd went wild as it did when Brown slipped up while adding some words on law enforcement. “I’ve got the police chiefs in my back, uh, backing me.”

“I think he said he’s got the police chiefs in his back pocket.” Whitman said.

Brown tried to shrug off the slip and went right back to talking about how he is tough on crime. He brought up, but did not name, a particular police chief who is backing Whitman and had stated in an ad that Brown was too tough on unions.

The candidates took polar opposite positions on Proposition 8, immigration reform, and Assembly Bill 32 versus Proposition 23.

 “Personally I was opposed to Prop 8,” said Whitman, “I think that the term marriage needs to be between a man and a woman.” She went on to praise domestic partnership laws as a progressive and viable alternative. 

“I believe that the fourteenth amendment, that I took an oath and swore to uphold, bans that kind of discrimination.” Brown said.

Brokaw brought the topic to immigration and asked Whitman, “If you couldn’t find someone in your own home who is illegal and undocumented, how do you expect businesses to?” Referring to the undocumented housekeeper that she employed for nine years.

After the laughter died down, Whitman explained that the housekeeper was hired through an employment agency, had three forms of identification and it broke her heart when she found out and had to fire her. Whitman restated her opinion that the solution to the immigration problem is a good electronic verification system, more border patrol and infrared and motion detector technology. She would be in favor of a guest worker program.

Brown had a completely different approach, putting immigration enforcement in the hands of federal authorities. “Almost every police chief I know does not want to be in the business of raiding businesses.” He focused on a path to citizenship for the immigrants already here and likened guest worker programs to serfdom.

While both are against Proposition 23, Whitman wants a one-year moratorium on AB32 because she said it would endanger jobs and drive them out of the state. Brown was against a moratorium, citing the requirements of the California Air Resources Board’s goal of getting one third of the state’s electrical power from renewable sources.

“I have a plan to meet that requirement with twenty thousand mega watts by twenty twenty,” said Brown.