The four Texas gubernatorial candidates met for a live televised debate in Dallas on Friday.
Republican incumbent Rick Perry, Democratic challenger Chris Bell, and independents Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn held their only debate before the November election.
Immigration, education and property taxes took center stage, and each candidate offered a different plan to stop illegal immigration and increase border protection.
“We’re going to have a fair legal immigration program,” said Strayhorn.
“I’m going to take illegal immigration out of the political arena and put it in the law enforcement arena,” she said, adding she would put the Texas Rangers in charge of protecting the state’s ports and borders.
Perry said the state government was ahead of the national government in protecting the border and that he plans to ask the state legislature for an additional $100 million to strengthen the borders.
“We will do everything we need to do and can do in this state until Washington understands you cannot have national security you cannot have an immigration program until you have border security,” Perry said.
Friedman said he would put more National Guard troops on the border and require immigrants to carry taxpayer ID cards.
He added the state should fine companies that hire illegal immigrants.
“Colonel Travis drew a line in the sand. The men who crossed it at the Alamo knew they were going to die. There’s another line called the border – let’s honor and protect it and respect it,” said Friedman.
Bell emphasized the idea of holding employers responsible, but rejected the notion that Texas’ illegal immigrants could be deported in a reasonable manner.
“Does anyone seriously believe we can deport 12 million people when we couldn’t even successfully evacuate New Orleans?” Bell asked.
The candidates were given an opportunity to question each other during the debate.
Friedman asked Bell about the lack of debates during the campaign, Bell questioned Strayhorn on her campaign contribution practices, Strayhorn questioned Perry about the lack of a “Jessica’s law” against child predators and Perry asked Friedman about his long-term energy plans for the state.
“We’re importing energy for the first time in Texas history,” Friedman said.
“We need to emphasize things like biodiesel. The reason I want Willie Nelson to head this up is because he can have all the farmer’s co-ops, biodiesel and ethanol co-ops, all across the state and make it available to people.”
In the “lightning round” portion of the debate, each candidate was asked a short question and given 15 seconds to respond.
When asked if he knew the average cost of in-state tuition at the University of Texas, Friedman responded, “Yeah, I know it’s too high.”
Rick Perry was asked what the electric bill at the governor’s mansion was in August. He estimated it was between $4,000-$5,000. Later, Perry estimated the average interest rate of a 30-year mortgage was 5.9 percent, but the moderator said it was 6.3.
Strayhorn slipped when she couldn’t name the president-elect of Mexico, Felipe Calderon.
“The newly elected president of Mexico won with a very narrow margin and there has been a lot of anxiety about that,” she said.
“In a Strayhorn administration, we will work with all of our friends south of the border and I will be delighted to sit down with him.”
Bell correctly placed the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, and offered a political response when asked if he knew the term limit of the Texas governor.
“There is no term limit for Texas governor, and that’s why people should be horrified – because Rick Perry says he plans to run for another term if he’s successful,” Bell said.
“That’s the best reason I can give you tonight for voting for me.”
After the debate, all the candidates were afforded 10 minutes to speak to the media.
Perry was the only candidate who did not use the time, choosing instead to send spokesman Robert Black to read a statement declaring Perry’s victory in the debate.
Libertarian James Werner, the only other candidate who will appear on the ballot, was not included in the debate. James Dillon, representing the Patriot Party as a write-in candidate, was also left out of the event.
The winner of the gubernatorial elections only requires a plurality of votes, not the majority. Voters will take to the polls on Nov. 7.
