“Unlike last night’s presidential debate, we have a mute button and we’re willing to use it if we have to,” said Chip Taylor from the Ball State University Bowen Center for Public Affairs. He was the moderator for a Wednesday evening virtual town hall sponsored by several Delaware County organizations. Besides being cut for time once or twice, candidates were civil.
And that’s how they said they’ll be if sent to Congress. Libertarian Tom Ferkinhoff said Tuesday night’s debate in Cleveland is what Washington looks like under a two-party system.
“Once I’m elected, I’ll be only the second Libertarian in Congress. So to get anything done, I’m going to have to reach across the aisle. I won’t be able to just cluster myself in my own sounding chamber with other people from my party.”
Democrat Jeanine Lee Lake said she’s an independent thinker who works well with others. But she said some others aren’t the same.
“The president of the United States refused to denounce White supremacy. I don’t know – I won’t be able to work with everybody. Because some people are evil – and racist.”
Republican incumbent Greg Pence did not attend the virtual town hall, saying he had a scheduling conflict.
Ferkinhoff cited Libertarian principles when he said the minimum wage is obsolete, corporate taxes should not be raised, and the federal government should get out of education policy. He’s also not a fan of universal healthcare.
Lake believes in free community college for all, rejoining the Paris climate agreement, and giving women affordable birth control and access to choices like abortion.
Ferkinhoff , Lake, and Pence all ran for the seat in 2018 when it was an open race. Pence garnered more than 63 percent of the vote.
