Every candidate for statewide and federal office in Delaware fielded questions from an audience at Delaware State University Wednesday night.
Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Kent County, questions ranged from the federal legalization of medical marijuana to energy policy.
Fireworks sparked briefly between candidates for US House, with Republican Rose Izzo questioning incumbent Democrat John Carney’s political ability in her opening statement.
Izzo says Carney’s votes against a balanced budget amendment, a lack of interest in auditing the Federal Reserve and increasing the debt limit are unacceptable.
“These are broken promises that he made. He is either telling us mistruths, or he cannot do the job. Either way, he deserves to be fired,” said
Carney and Izzo also differed sharply on navigating America’s path to energy independence, with Carney saying he supports further exploration of natural gas and renewables.
Izzo blasted him for supporting guidelines released by the Environmental Protection Agency on states limiting their carbon emissions, while saying all US energy resources should be used.
Libertarian Scott Gesty says he agrees with Izzo about the EPA’s potential overreach.
“But one thing you have to think about when it comes to energy and fracking and pollution is property rights," said Gesty. "Groups don’t have the right to pollute your air or your water, so it is proper for the federal government to be involved in this area.”
Green Party Candidate Bernard August railed against fossil fuels and the Keystone XL Pipeline, saying renewables are needed to protect the environment.
Those were among the few animated exchanges of the night in any race.
Candidates for US Senate, and State Attorney General, Auditor and Treasurer also joined the forum.
Voters cast their ballots November 4th.
