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By Nadin Abbott
October 11, 2014 (San Diego) Channel 10 hosted a debate this week for candidates in the 52nd Congressional District, sponsored by KOGO and the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Republican Carl DeMaio and Democrat Scott Peters came ready to answer questions from both LaDonna Harvey of KOGO and former Mayor/current San Diego Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Sanders.
DeMaio came out swinging in his opening statement, accusing Peters of taking almost $70,000 in car allowance payments, and showed the paperwork. “Political leaders give themselves benefits while they take away important programs from us,” he said, but didn’t specify any specific programs.
Peters reminded the audience that he ran for Congress in 2011 when Congress hit a low point. The Tea Party had gained power and Congress could not agree on a budget. “They waited so long that our credit got downgraded,” said Peters, adding that this was the first time this happened in American History.
He said that he was part of the group of legislators that passed legislation to assure that in the future, if there is no budget, Congress will not get paid. DeMaio challenged him that there was still a shutdown, but Peters clarified that this law came after the shutdown in hopes of preventing a repeat scenario. This was a bipartisan effort.
When the candidates were questioned about Ebola, DeMaio said the U.S. needs to do something now including "changing flights" and better CDC monitoring.Peters emphasized that not only do we have to take actions, as recommended by health authorities, but also invest in future research. He reminded the audience that the two experimental drugs were developed here in San Diego, and that with the decrease in investment in basic research, we are down in grant approvals from 25 percent to 7 percent.
On the Iraq conflict, DeMaio insisted that the current path is the wrong one to take. Peters told the audience that the path taken is what commanders have advised that needs to happen. He accused DeMaio of questioning the commanders in the field.
The debate omitted some key topics including the Ukraine and a potential new Cold War, the impact of free trade agreements on San Diego, and what either candidate aims to do to bring manufacturing and middle class jobs back to San Diego.
The sexual harassment claims made by a staffer against DeMaio were also not raised during this debate.
Channel 10 will re-run the debate Saturday (tonight) at 9 p.m.
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