Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington, and Rick Neal, his Democratic challenger, debated in Columbus on Friday and sparred over issues such as civility, health care reform, Russian election interference and President Donald Trump.
The two candidates for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District often agreed on issues such as rural broadband and climate change. The debate was hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Club at The Boat House at Confluence Park. It was moderated by Colleen Marshall, co-anchor of Columbus' NBC4.
The 300 to 400 person crowd was filled with supporters of both candidates and members of the club.
The first question Marshall asked the candidates was about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s statement that the U.S. deficit is caused by entitlements such as Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid costs.
Stivers proposed a bipartisan solution to the deficit where the government works to cut defense spending and grow the economy.
Neal said Stivers’ and McConnell’s decisions are what led to the deficit rising so high and that cutting Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid is their way to find a scapegoat. Neal proposed expanding Medicare to a new age bracket, people 55 to 65.
Stivers said that would cost $1 trillion and providing Medicare for all would cost $3 trillion, both of which would bankrupt the system.
Both candidates found common ground during the debate when discussing an increase of the gas tax and improving access broadband in rural areas, which make up a large portion of the 15th District. The candidates also agreed that climate change is real.
“Climate change is real and largely caused by human activity and so humans have to do something about it,” Neal said. “Why is this even a question?”
Neal said he wants to do everything he can to support renewable energy companies and opportunities within the district. He wants to make sure communities that have had a rough transition to the new energy economy are able to recover.
“The way forward involves moving toward negative emissions,” Stivers said. “We’ve done a lot in Ohio through natural gas, which is still obviously carbon-based but it burns much much cleaner.”
He said they need to do more and invest in technologies that allow the country to use renewable energy sources correctly such as microgrid and battery technologies.
One of the most contentious moments during the debate came when both candidates were asked if this upcoming election would be a referendum on Trump.
“I think some people will (vote because of him),” Stivers said. “But most people are going to come out and they’re going to vote for the person who they think shares their values and will work hard to get results for them.”
The conversation took a turn when Neal took a jab at Stivers on the topic of civility.
“How can you build the trust required to be able to work together, Congressman, when you’re not standing up to (the) biggest source of incivility, which is the president?” Neal said. “So you yourself are a source of the incivility that is creating the problems in this country.”
Neal said his accusations come from the fact that Stivers is the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, which Neal said is promoting and funding negative campaign advertisements across the country for other races.
Stivers said that this is false because he has guidelines that require all advertisements are fair and truthful.
“If you want someone who will be a part of the resistance, then vote for my opponent,” Stivers said. “But if you want someone who will deliver results, vote for me.”
The two will meet again in Athens on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at Nelson Court dining hall. The debate will be moderated by Ohio University alumnus Joe Hallett, a retired reporter from The Columbus Dispatch, The Toledo Blade and The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
