By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
GOFFSTOWN – The state’s housing and homeless crisis and illegal immigration were among the top issues addressed by Republican gubernatorial candidates Kelly Ayotte of Nashua and Chuck Morse of Atkinson who took to the television airwaves live Tuesday night for the first of four nights of debates sponsored by WMUR-TV at St. Anselm College.
The short week after Labor Day kicked into high gear the state’s primary contests.
Voters will go to the polls next Tuesday, Sept. 10 to pick their choices for nominees in both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Former state Senator Chuck Morse, a Republican with deep experience crafting bills that could pass the governor’s desk without a veto and Ayotte, a former U.S. Senator and former Republican Attorney General took the questions from WMUR’s Political Director Adam Sexton. He was joined by WMUR staff to ask questions.
Ayotte said she decided to leave the private sector after her public service experience and run as governor to deliver “a brighter future for all.”
“We will protect the New Hampshire advantage,” she said and ban “sanctuary cities.”
Morse said New Hampshire wins by electing conservatives but he warned that that would not be the case if voters selected Ayotte for the corner office.
“Kelly Ayotte went to Washington as a conservative yet she voted with the Democrats,” and constantly threw former President Donald Trump “under the bus.”
Morse said we need to close the borders and Ayotte would not do that.
“I am a former murder prosecutor,” Ayotte said. “Chuck killed the sanctuary city bill,” she said.
In advertising messaging, Morse has focused on the Republican mainstream message related to border security and the economy while Ayotte has ventured into abortion and issues related to attracting attention in the general election, maintaining she supports the state’s current abortion limits and would not exceed them.
While the debate focused on the two front runners, there are other candidates on the Republican ballot for governor including Shaun Fife of Gilmanton, Robert Wayne McClory of Goffstown, Richard A. McMenamon II of Gilmanton and Frank Negus Staples of Manchester. But they were not selected to join in the debate stage due to WMUR’s selection criteria.
Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, decided not to seek re-election.
Asked about the Northern Border Security efforts, Morse said he supports the funding though it has not led to a lot of arrests.
Ayotte said the reason people are not coming across the northern border is because we have new enforcement.
She charged Morse did not use E-verify to check on agriculture employees in his business and whether they were coming illegally from other countries.
If elected, she said criminals will face the toughest charges in the country.
“Where the hell was she when kids at Sununu Youth Services were being abused, and she knew about it,” because she was the state’s top law enforcement official at the time, Morse asked.
She denied knowing about it and said “he’s just desperate right now because the polls are not going his way.”
On abortion, Ayotte said she supports the current law and as governor, she would not change it.
Morse said the state did not ban abortion in New Hampshire. He said in the last trimester, he would not support abortion.
Education freedom accounts were also discussed.
The statistics show that two thirds of the kids in the program were already using private schools and both were asked why should the taxpayer foot the bill.
Morse said he strongly supports education choice and said that Ayotte went to Washington and did not.
Ayotte said every child should be able to access whatever school they wish to reach their full potential.
She said in 2004, Morse voted with Democrats and did not support education freedom accounts.
Ayotte said parents need a bill of rights to allow them to know what is going on with their children.
Morse said they can agree on that and that it should be passed.
Morse said he has supported Trump and will vote for him, despite the fact he has not been endorsed by him.
Asked what Gov. Chris Sununu could have done better, Morse said he should not have closed all things during COVID-19. Ayotte said he could have fully funded Group 2 retirement accounts for first responders.
Marijuana legalization was also discussed.
Both oppose the idea.
Ayotte said she would not support offshore wind and her concern for commerical fishermen was more important.
Morse said he would also oppose offshore wind.
Asked if public higher education should be better funded, Morse suggested working with community college systems and Ayotte said the last biennium the legislature increased that funding by 10 percent. She said the state should also be working on promoting the trade schools.
MORE DEBATES
Beginning each night this week at 8 p.m. WMUR will host debates.
Wednesday night it will be the Democratic candidates for governor featuring former Manchester mayor Joyce Craig, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington of Concord and Newmarket business owner Jon Kiper.
On Thursday night, there will be two debates featuring the Democratic candidates for the second congressional district and then at 8:30, the Republicans.
U.S. Representative Annie M. Kuster, D-NH decided not to run for another term.
The first debate will feature former executive councilor and 2016 gubernatorial nominee Colin Van Ostern of Concord and Maggie Goodlander of Nashua, a former senior aide to President Biden.
The leading Republican candidates seeking Kuster’s seat are Vikram Mansharamani and Lily Tang Williams. Other candidates in the GOP race include Jay Mercer, Bill Hamlen, Casey Crane, Randall Clark , and Jason Riddle.
On Friday night, Republicans hoping to unseat U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, a Democrat, will take the stage.
Pappas is running for re-election but there are no debate plans for that race.
Candidates for the Republican nomination for District 1 include Joseph Kelly Levasseur, Russell Prescott, Hollie Noveletsky, and Chris Bright.
Another series of debates will be hosted by New England College in Henniker. It plans to have the Republican gubernatorial debate at NEC, Wednesday at 5 p.m. and at 6 p.m. the Republican Congressional District 2 debate , then at 7 p.m. the Democratic Congressional District 2 debate.
On Thursday NEC hosts the Republican District 1 race at 5 p.m. and on Friday at 6 p.m. the Democratic gubernatorial debate.
