As part of the heated contest for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination, three candidates squared off last night in Old Cabell Hall in a debate sponsored by the University Democrats.
The candidates who participated in the debate were Del. Alan Diamonstein of Newport News, Del. Jerrauld Jones of Norfolk and Mayor Tim Kaine of Richmond. The three are competing to get on the ticket that includes Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Warner.
The Democratic Party plans to make improving education a key part of its platform next November, according to all three candidates.
Of the three, Diamonstein is the only candidate to attend the University where he was both an undergraduate and a law student.
The candidates discussed a range of issues including education, gun control, the death penalty, the morning-after pill and health care.
In opening statements, each candidate discussed public education and the future of Virginia public schools. Kaine spoke about spending more money on under-funded public schools, raising teachers' salaries and repairing the infrastructure of Virginia's public schools.
"My number one priority is to meet the needs of Virginia public education," Kaine said.
Diamonstein spoke about the need to deal with funding disparity in Commonwealth schools.
Jones stressed Warner's campaign goal of "leaving no one behind" in the Commonwealth and said he would fight for the needs of Virginia families and improve education.
Candidates debated elections and voting reform in Virginia in light of the Florida presidential election debacle.
Kaine cited one of the major problems in Virginia as the lack of both consistency in voting methodology and funding necessary to run state, federal and local elections. Jones and Diamonstein agreed with Kaine's assessment.
"We should review the entire voting and electoral system in Virginia," Diamonstein said.
Debate moderators, lead by Alexander Theodoridis, chief of staff of the Center for Governmental Studies, questioned candidates regarding Gov. James S. Gilmore III's recent budget freeze on discretionary spending at higher education institutions in Virginia. All three candidates criticized Gilmore for not attending to the needs of state universities.
"I am appalled at the pride this administration has taken in dismantling higher education," Diamonstein said.
Kaine questioned the administration's priorities of placing the car tax above delivering quality public education in Virginia.
"The most important thing we can do for universities is increase per capita funding for higher education," Jones said.
When asked about politicization of the University's Board of Visitors in recent years, each candidate wanted to see the Board become less political.
"New blood is needed to make things work well on the Board of Visitors," Kaine said.
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