Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

District 13 forum a static affair

Rep. Vern Buchanan and his three challengers met on the campaign trail for the first time Thursday night, but there were few fireworks.

The Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, which organized the candidate forum, made sure of that.

Bound by a rigid format set by the chamber, the candidates gave prepared answers to previously submitted questions, generally stuck to the issues presented to them and largely refrained from directly addressing or debating each other.

And when one did go off-topic to mention allegations filed against Buchanan, she drew a quick admonishment from the moderator.

It was the first time that Buchanan, R-Sarasota, personally faced those seeking to oust him from the 13th Congressional District seat: Democrat Christine Jennings and two others running without party affiliation, Don Baldauf and Jan Schneider.

All said they favored strengthening U.S. borders and improving legal immigrants' path to citizenship, with conditions. There also was general agreement that U.S. 17, the major north-south road through Hardee, needs improving.

They also agreed the U.S. must become more energy-independent, but the three said not by allowing oil drilling closer to Florida's Gulf coast.

Baldauf was the exception, saying technological advancements would make it safe to drill as close as 25 miles to shore. He also advocated building an oil refinery near Port Manatee, saying it would create jobs and boost the local economy.

"I'm kinda the newcomer here," said Baldauf, a licensed alarm contractor from Bradenton who called himself "a proven problem-solver."

Buchanan advocated greater use of nuclear and alternative energy, as well as maintaining the Bush administration's tax cuts and enacting a Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. He also touted his business record and his memberships on the House's transportation, small business and veterans committees.

"I've been in business 32 years. I'm not a professional politician," Buchanan said.

Jennings, who narrowly lost to Buchanan in the 2006 congressional race, also stuck to familiar themes. She highlighted her banking background and said she would be more effective in a Democrat-controlled Congress than Buchanan.

"In order to be effective, you have to be in the party that's in power," she said.

Responding to a question about immigration, Jennings mentioned a recent lawsuit's allegation that Buchanan hired illegal aliens to do stonework at his Longboat Key home. That elicited a quick admonishment from the moderator.

Schneider, a Sarasota lawyer who previously ran for the seat three times as a Democrat, said ending U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan was her biggest priority.

"I'm well aware the economy is issue number one with people, but fighting two wars doesn't help," she said.

She also advocated for a national health insurance program but said she opposed the recent $700 billion bailout passed by Congress.

The forum was open only to chamber members in the congressional district's least-populated county which solidly went for Buchanan in 2006. The district also covers all of DeSoto and Sarasota counties and parts of Manatee and Charlotte.