Both candidates in the District 8 state senate race distanced themselves from negative ad mailers that have recently been mailed out on their behalf during a candidates night in Antrim on Wednesday.
Incumbent Republican Ruth Ward and Democratic challenger Jenn Alford-Teaster debated a number of topics during the Antrim-Bennington Lions Club sponsored candidates night, but both admitted that there was no need for negative attacks on the campaign trail.
“I support the policy comments, because I disagree with my opponent on her voting record… you have no idea who sends out mailers on your behalf… I was very clear upfront that I did not want to send negative mailers that would attack the dignity of Ms. Ward,” Alford-Teaster said. “I think this is the reason why people don’t get involved in politics and why people don’t have dignified conversations.”
Alford-Teaster said she has sent out mailers about Ward’s voting records, but she has kept it to policy and used “nice photos” of Ward.
“My opponent is way ahead of me because as far as I know, I have not sent out any negative mailings at all. The mailings that I have sent out have not had much to do with Ms. Alford-Teaster,” Ward said. “I would like to see some of those mailings with those funny littles things, because I have not seen them…. obviously we have very different polices. I’m fiscally conservative, I like to have the money before I spend it.”
Outside of the question on negative mailers, the two candidates had varied answers on many of the questions asked in the Antrim Town Hall.
Using public funds for private education was one point of division, with Ward believing that students – especially those not fitting in with the public school model – should be able to go elsewhere and have state funding follow them to a school of their choosing, while Alford-Teaser said vouchers or other programs would lead to already inequitably funded public schools losing out on more funding.
“That money is not accounted for once it leaves the state system,” Alford-Teaster said, of the previously proposed voucher bill. “… I have a real problem with my state tax dollars being spent without any accountability.”
The candidates also disagreed on corporate business tax breaks. Alford-Teaster found the breaks on large businesses to be “problematic” for the state, but said they should remain in place for small businesses, which she called “the backbone” of the state.
Ward said a lot of good has come from tax breaks for all businesses, as it has led to more jobs and increased revenue for the state.
Both candidates came down in support of second amendment rights and said those who do not have proper training should not have automatic rifles.
When talking about guns in schools, Ward spoke to the importance of focusing on mental health issues, saying it’s not right to take away guns from law-abiding citizens. Alford-Teaster said the decision to allow guns in schools should be up to the school district. Alford-Teaster also said that focusing on mental health issues is an important part of school safety.
Neither candidate felt that now is the time to legalize marijuana recreationally, though Alford-Teaster felt that medical legalization would be a good step forward for patients dealing with cancer and pain.
The candidates also distanced themselves from one another during questions on alternative energy.
Alford-Teaster said everything the state can do to promote and foster less dependency on fossil fuels will benefit the future of the state. Ward, however, thinks that the state has likely gone as far as it can with alternative energy without impacting the day-to-day life of Granite Staters.
“We really have to look hard at what the consequences are [when it comes to developing alternative energy in the state],” Ward said. “What is the impact on the environment, for example, if you are going to have wind power being the major source of energy. It’s touted as clean and free, which is true, but where are you going to place these wind turbines?”
One other thing the two candidates agreed on is that there is no place in the state for an income or sales tax.
District 8 represents Antrim, Bennington, Francestown, Croydon, Newport, Unity, Acworth, Stoddard, Deering, Weare, Bradford, Sutton, Newbury, Springfield, New London, Sunapee, Goshen, Grantham, Lempster, Washington, Marlow, Hillsboro, Langdon, and Windsor.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.