By Kirsten Mahon/tr news editor
Wendy Davis and Mark Shelton argued over education funding, unemployment and other topics during a state Senate debate Oct. 11 on TR Campus.
Her opponent, Mark Shelton, argues for Texan energy independence
Carrie Duke/ The Collegian
The Energy Auditorium was packed, and other viewers watched the debate on a screen in a separate overflow auditorium. The debate was also broadcast live to all campuses, and students could ask the candidate questions remotely.
Between the flying accusations on both sides, Davis, the incumbent Democrat, mainly asserted that Texas needs to better fund education so that students will be qualified for the workforce. Davis also questioned current policies that may be outdated, causing Americans to lose money.
Shelton said he does not support alternative forms of energy. He said he wants Texas to be the “energy capital of the world.” Through this belief, he doesn’t wish to change laws that govern energy use and said that Texas should be using more of its natural gas.
The two could agree on only one thing: Children should not go to the emergency room just because they don’t have health insurance.
However, Shelton, who is also a pediatrician, believes that health care initiatives such as what’s known as ObamaCare would only further misspend taxpayers’ money.
“We cannot spend money we don’t have,” Shelton said.
Students and faculty from other campuses asked the debaters about relieving the unemployment rate, educational funding and job training.
According to Shelton, in this economic downturn, citizens should support corporations and small businesses because they are what make money for the state.
Davis disagreed with Shelton saying she wants to funnel money into making college more affordable to create a better workforce.
“We need to be creative,” Davis said. “Teachers are being demoralized.”
After the debate, student Kahlela Hawkins said she plans to vote for Davis.
“Mostly what she [Davis] has done will help my mom,” she said. “She’s a kindergarten teacher of a class of 35, and that is way too much for her. She’s hoping that the class will get smaller so she can have better one-on-one time with the children to help further their education.”
Shelton has said before that he wishes Davis would come clean about her contracts with public entities, which Shelton believes are unethical and dishonest to the public. In closing, Shelton once more called Davis out for her “lucrative contracts.”
“The people in this district deserve conservative leadership that will help this economy grow,” Shelton said. “This election is about jobs and the economy and about growing the economy in this state, making sure taxes are low and predictable so businesses can grow and so folks can have jobs.”
In response to the attacks, Davis said Shelton has been dishonest.
“I am tough, and I can take it because I know that my voice reflects the people in District 10,” she said. “I know that when I stand on the Senate floor, and my mouth opens up, it is your voice that comes out.”
