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Republican Gov. Greg Abbott introduced himself as a successful governor in the only Texas Governor's campaign debate on Friday night, avoiding any attack on longtime Democratic rival Lupe Valdez.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott ran as a successful director in the only Texas Governor's campaign debate on Friday night, avoiding any attack on Lupe Valdez, a longtime Democrat rival. public education and too ready to appeal to racial fears with what she called the law of the state on the presentation of your papers.
The hour-long debate at the LBJ library covered many territories, but he missed the US Senate debate last Friday, in which US Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and US representative Beto O & # 39; Rourke, D-El Paso on who was more in tune with the values of Texas.
Unlike the Senate race, the governor contest is not considered competitive. Four years ago, Abbott defeated his well-funded Democratic opponent, Senator Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, 20 points behind. This time, he occupies the position with a huge treasure of war, facing a rival barely funded and whose name is hardly recognized by the whole country. The Abbott campaign would like to improve the margin by 20 points, though in a year that is not as kind to Republicans at the national level as it was four years ago.
But Abbott, who has been known to tweet with a hint of Fox News and raise money to ring the alarm of a potential socialist takeover of Texas, has been content Friday night to project a image of successful centrism.
Both candidates have strong personal stories.
At the end of the debate, Abbott, who was paralyzed after a tree fell on him while he was jogging in Houston, said that Texas was a place where a young man "broke in two." Could become governor. Valdez praised the state as a place where a Latina could live in San Antonio's poorest postal code and picking crops with her migrant worker family, pursuing a career in police, to be elected Sheriff of Dallas County. the Democratic candidate for the governorship.
Taxes, marijuana
Abbott underscored its commitment to act on what has been its main unfilled legislative agenda – limiting property tax increases.
Valdez said that "Abbott was pushing the burden down" on homeowners by not providing sufficient public funds for education.
Having failed to pay property taxes in time on a number of rental properties in Dallas, Valdez said she wanted to avoid raising tenants' rents and was acting like other Texans after being enslaved by multiple financial obligations and extended payment. property taxes without ever becoming "delinquent".
Abbott said he still paid his property taxes on time, just as he ensured that Texas is still paying its bills on time to maintain its outstanding financial standing.
With respect to marijuana, both candidates were in favor of decriminalization.
Abbott said that he did not want to see crowded jails of people caught with small amounts of marijuana.
"I would be willing to discuss with the legislature the reduction of sentence for possession of two ounces or less of the Class B misdemeanor to a class C offense," said Abbott.
Valdez said voters should decide to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes.
Abbott said he would work in the legislature at the next session to remove a plaque in the Capitol that claims that slavery was not the cause of the civil war, but that the legislature Set up and that it was up to the legislature to remove it. . Valdez said that she would take it.
Hurricane Harvey, Immigration, Firearms
Valdez blamed Abbott for convening a special session for a "bathroom bill" – legislation regulating the use of bathrooms by transgender people who did not pass two legislative sessions last year – but did not convene special session the consequences of Hurricane Harvey.
"He called a special session on bathrooms, but not when people died," said Valdez.
But Abbott said the Texans would remember his direct command of Harvey's rescue and recovery effort and that the state, without having to call a special session, had committed enough money to resupply himself to the next session.
He also stated that a "toilet bill" was not on his agenda for the next session.
Valdez sought to present Abbott as a scare campaign with a bill banning sanctuary cities. But Abbott, who played the sanctuary town problem in the past and denigrated his line of attack as his own alarmist brand, left him alone on Friday night. He did not even attack Valdez, as he did in the past, as the sheriff's uncertain partner in charge of enforcing the federal immigration law.
In the aftermath of the church and school shootings during his tenure, Abbott supported the arming of teachers or other school staff to protect schools, without requiring anyone to do so. . Valdez said teachers are already overworked and underpaid.
"Teachers should teach, not be armed and be the defense," said Valdez. "If they wanted to be armed, they should have gone to the army."
The two candidates disagreed on the rationale for the promulgation of a red flag law, which allows police or family members to apply to a court to remove firearms from persons who may be a threat to themselves or others.
"I would not support a red flag law that removes guns from people without due process," Abbott said.
"There is due process," said Valdez. "The laws on red flags are aimed at preventing people from harming themselves or others."
Valdez supported retaining tuition fees for students without legal immigration status in public colleges and universities, arguing that the state must ensure that the large non-immigrant population authorized state is ready to make its maximum contribution to the state.
Abbott stated that it was a noble but imperfect idea, and repeated a kind of oblique criticism that he offered in the past, with no practical effect, that the law requires those who benefit from it to progress. in the legalization of their status. no mechanism to make sure that happens.
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