While the remnants of Hurricane Sandy quietly poured rain in Athens Tuesday, Ohio Rep. Debbie Phillips and Republican challenger Charles Richter were calmly vying for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Government spending, education funding, ballot Issue 2 and environmental issues were heavily debated during the Candidates’ Forum at the Athens Public Library on Home Street, where about 20 people gathered.
Phillips, D-92, is an Ohio University alumna running for a third term, and Richter, an Ohio State University alumnus from Johnstown, is now vying for Phillips’ job to represent the newly drawn 94th district.
Both candidates said they would allocate more state funding for local infrastructure, businesses and schools.
Richter said his main focus would be making sure local officials play a larger role in deciding how funds are spent. Phillips agreed but said funds cut from local governments and universities during Gov. John Kasich’s administration need to be restored.
Phillips said she supported legislation during her past term to put caps on tuition increases and to stop student loan interest rates from doubling. She also said she supported student-trustee voting rights.
But Richter said job creation was the key to adding tax levy revenue that would fund the schools and universities of Ohio.
“We need to work with universities. They are the foundation of our future,” Richter said. “Loans are going to be another bubble that needs to be taken care of before it is going to blow up in our face.”
Attendees also questioned the candidates about their views on hydraulic fracturing. Richter said that he supports fracking — as long as it is safe — because it would be a way to add jobs to the local economy.
Phillips didn’t say whether she supports fracking, but said that if re-elected, she will push for greater protection of property owners during fracking contracts as an extension of work she has done during her past terms.
“My focus in working on this issue has been to try to push for stronger regulations and oversight,” Phillips said. “I voted against the energy bill because I thought the provisions were far too weak to protect land owners.”
Phillips said she strongly supports ballot Issue 2 to make fair voting districts, while Richter recognized a need for redrawing, but does not think it warrants changing language in the state constitution.
After the hour-long forum, Phillips and Richter shook hands before mingling with attendees.
Both candidates were well-spoken and showed expertise in different areas, said Jacob Meyer, a senior studying economics and political science who attended the forum.
“Phillips showed that she knew about the inner workings of government, and Richter expressed his knowledge of business economy,” Meyer said, adding that he thinks Richter had a better debate performance overall.
The event was the fifth and last forum hosted by the Athens County League of Women Voters and the Athens Public Library. Election Day is Nov. 6.
ag881210@ohiou.edu
