Heated
debate proves that The Beach is hot
By Franklin Holman
Special to the On-line Forty-Niner
Dana
Rohrabacher, Keith Gann and Gerrie Schipske,
candidates for the 46th Congressional District,
battled with words in a political debate
held Monday in the University Student Union.
The debate was sponsored by the Cal State
Long Beach Law Society in conjunction with
Associated Students Inc. Each candidate
was given two minutes to respond to prepared
and student-asked questions addressed by
the debate mediator Art Levine.
“Bringing an event like this on campus is
great for the students and university because
students can get in touch with political
issues, and when students are aware of candidates
and the issues they support, they are more
likely to vote,” said Shahrokh Sheik, vice
president of A.S.I.
The issues discussed at the debate included
how to best operate the Port of Long Beach
and the 710 freeway, the legalization of
drugs, district drawing, gun control, energy,
education and abortion.
The 46th District covers Rancho Palos Verdes,
Long Beach, Wilmington, Seal Beach, Huntington
Beach, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley,
San Pedro and Catalina Island.
“It was a very spirited debate and I think
that voters who watch the debate on cable
will see that there is a real choice here
in this election,” Schipske said.
The debate featured some heat between opponents
Rohrabacher and Schipske on the topic of
legalization of drugs. While Rohrabacher
said, “I am not in favor of legalizing drugs,
but do support the medical marijuana issue.”
Schipske responded by quoting Rohbacher’s
Associated Press statement stating he said,
when he was younger he did everything but
drink the bong water.
Rohrabacher, a graduate of CSULB, opened
the debate by stating, “It’s a pleasure
to be back home at Long Beach State.”
Rohrabacher
represents the Republican Party and currently
serves as congressman for the 45th Congressional
District. Rohrabacher is a strong voice
for lower government spending and his major
issues include employee ownership and justice
for American POWs.
Gann, representing the Libertarian Party,
stressed the values of the party, stating,
in his Web site, “We believe that individuals
have the right to excerise sole dominion
over their own lives, and have the right
to live in whatever manner they choose,
so long as they do not interfere with the
equal right of others to live in whatever
manner they choose.”
Schipske is also a Republican. She is currently
a professor at CSULB, a licensed nurse practitioner,
and former college board president who has
emerged as a leader on issues ranging from
patient advocacy to education and from domestic
violence to community revitalization.
The debate ended with closing statements
from each of the candidates who summarized
the main points of their campaign.
|
