9th District rivals spar in 2 debates

Candidates for Democratic nomination for the 9th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, left, Cleveland businessman Graham Veysey, and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo debate the issues in Toledo. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

In two debates at each end of the new 9th Congressional District Monday, Marcy Kaptur and Dennis Kucinich sparred over spending, war, energy policy, and health care while 29-year-old newcomer Graham Veysey labeled both part of the problem in Congress that has resulted in a $15 trillion debt for the country.

Miss Kaptur came on stronger than in past debates, at one point telling Mr. Kucinich: " ... I would not have shaken the bloody hand of Assad." She made the comment following Mr. Kucinich's disclosure that he had traveled to Syria to attempt to persuade Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop his violent crackdown on his own people.

Miss Kaptur (D., Toledo) and Mr. Kucinich (D., Cleveland) spent most of the night touting their records, while Mr. Veysey, a Cleveland businessman, said voters deserved a fresh face in Congress.

"I've always been taught if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem," said Mr. Veysey, 29. "And Congress right now is broken. It's broken, and it needs to be fixed."

It was the first time the three have debated in Toledo. The trio debated earlier Monday in Cleveland before about 190 spectators at the City Club of Cleveland

Monday night's debate, which was held at WTOL-TV Channel 11's studios, was sponsored by The Blade and Channel 11. WTOL's Jerry Anderson was the moderator and Blade politics writer Tom Troy and Channel 11 anchorman Chrys Peterson asked questions as well.

During the Toledo debate, Mr. Kucinich opened by telling voters he understood many of the issues surrounding residents today, after growing up the oldest child of seven in a working-class family in Cleveland. He was first elected to Congress in 1996 and was twice a candidate for president.

‘I'm the jobs Democrat'

Miss Kaptur, who was first elected to Congress in 1982, touted her seniority and committee positions in Congress and a host of federal projects in northwest Ohio, such as the I-280 Veterans Glass City Skyway bridge, aid to the solar industry, and efforts to keep Asian carp out of Lake Erie.

"I'm the jobs Democrat in the race," she said.

Mr. Veysey invoked the nation's debt and more than once mentioned his two competitors' collective years in office, and continued his campaign refrain of attacking his opponents for their tenure in Washington.

Miss Kaptur responded by pointing out that her years of experience were an asset.

"In some of those years, some of us have accomplished some things for the people we represent," she said.

The three also responded to questions ranging from Chinese investment in Toledo, federal health-care mandates, and the deficit.

Toledo voice heard

When Ms. Peterson asked Mr. Kucinich if Toledo would lose his voice in Congress if he were elected, he said it would not, and noted the city's similarities to his native Cleveland, such as manufacturing and the Lake Erie shoreline, which should be protected from recent toxic algae blooms, he said.

"We have a lot in common," he stated.

Mr. Troy asked the candidates whether they agreed there needed to be more transparency with regards to Chinese investors in Toledo, referring to the three-part series of stories by The Blade this week.

Mr. Veysey said he did support more transparency in revealing the sources of foreign investment, then quickly segued into his call for the region to transform from the rust belt to a "digital belt" and "vacation belt."

Miss Kaptur pointed to her support of the foreign agents registration act, which requires certain disclosures by individuals acting on behalf of foreign principals.

Mr. Kucinich said he would like to encourage more investment from within the United States.

Health-care concerns

When Mr. Anderson asked about the November passage of Issue 3, which allowed Ohio to object to the federal mandate to purchase health insurance under President Obama's health-care law, Miss Kaptur highlighted the bill's benefits for small businesses, and its rules forbidding health insurance companies from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions.

Mr. Kucinich reiterated his call for a universal, single-payer health-care system that would cover all Americans.

"I understand the concerns that people have about being forced to buy private health insurance," he said.

Mr. Veysey said he would work to make sure the bill would not hurt small businesses and didn't add to the nation's debt.

In Cleveland, the candidates fielded questions about legislation that would lead to job growth, health-care reform, the needs of the educational system, and abortion rights.

Miss Kaptur pointed to her support of the "fiscal 2010 defense appropriations bill" as one way that she helped foster job growth along the Lake Erie coast, as well as her support of industries such as solar energy and hydrogen research.

‘Who can deliver?'

Miss Kaptur questioned how Mr. Kucinich could label himself a jobs candidate and be opposed to items such as creation of jobs through the Keystone Pipeline — a system to transport oil from Canada to multiple destinations in the United States — or the defense measures that have helped support local companies.

"I think people should ask themselves: Who has been fighting harder for jobs along the [Lake Erie] coast, whether the solar industry, the maritime industry, the steel industry?" she said.

"... I am the strongest jobs candidate in this race, and the people of the northeastern [communities] have a serious question to ask themselves, ‘Who can deliver?' "

Kucinich support

Mr. Kucinich countered that the country's issues must stop being sacrificed "to keep feeding the war machine." Noting his support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Mr. Kucinich said he instead has focused on investment in the country, such as rebuilding infrastructure, so as to "put millions of Americans back to work."

"I've delivered for our area," he said, pointing to specific examples including saving a Cleveland steel mill, helping to save 375 jobs at the Hugo Boss manufacturing plant in Brooklyn, Ohio, and bringing a Social Security office to Lakewood, Ohio.

Mr. Kucinich, who was decidedly the favored candidate in the room with five of the nearly two dozen tables dedicated to his supporters, further noted differences between himself and his "friend from Toledo," noting his support of safety measures at Davis-Besse nuclear power plant and of "marriage equality."

Distinguishing himself as the "vote for the future," Mr. Veysey said the communities along the Lake Erie coastline must reinvent themselves to be successful and attacked his opponents as being leaders during a time when the cities of Toledo and Cleveland became noted for their poverty rates.

"I think that we can, as a region, build on the manufacturing base that made this region as strong as it was, and as strong as it will be. We need to shed the rust-belt image and become the digital belt," Mr. Veysey said, adding that the area should also look at the opportunity of becoming "a vacation belt."

‘Status quo' attacked

As he also did in Toledo Monday night, Mr. Veysey further attacked the 40-plus combined years his opponents have had in Washington.

"Sitting on this stage next to me is congressman status and congresswoman quo. They are status quo," he said.

The most heated portion of the debate was when Mr. Kucinich vehemently denied Mr. Veysey's assertions that he received campaign contributions from a "super-PAC" in Texas.

"Stop making false charges," Mr. Kucinich said, saying that he doesn't support any super-PAC nor "take their money."

Miss Kaptur jumped in to say that the group in question has thrown its support behind the opponents of female and African-American candidates.

Super-PAC issue

Mr. Kucinich again called the allegations false but was cut short by the moderator who determined the question was far afield of the question of whether the candidates supported a constitutional amendment to end "corporate personhood rights."

The super-PAC Campaign for Primary Accountability based in Houston, is spending money to advertise in the 9th District in support of Mr. Kucinich. Super-PACs are allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money on political advertising but are prohibited from coordinating with a candidate.

The Campaign for Primary Accountability has conservative backers, but is backing Mr. Kucinich, who is not conservative, saying he is an "independent."

Spectators Anne Bingham, 50, of Cleveland, and Mary Anne Garvey, 56, of the Cleveland suburb of Rocky River, said that they were unaware of the super-PACs' support of Mr. Kucinich and intended to learn more about it.

Seated at a table not designated for a particular candidate, the women said they attended to learn more about their choices.

They said that they were most impressed with Miss Kaptur's distinction as being a high-ranking member of the defense appropriations committee.

Experience noted

Although impressed by Mr. Veysey's passion, the women agreed that they would prefer to look to his past actions, noting that he didn't have a "record to stand on."

"It would be a shame to give up a high-ranking position like that for a new guy," Ms. Bingham said.

The winner of the Democratic contest will face one of two Republican candidates in the November general election.

Steven Kraus, a Huron auctioneer, is running against Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher of Springfield Township for the GOP nomination.

The Ohio primary election is March 6, with early voting already in progress.

Contact Kate Giammarise at: kgiammarise@theblade.com or 419-724-6091.