Candidates Debate For Ward Crutchfield's Seat

Two months ago, Ward Crutchfield gave up his State Senate seat after he pleaded guilty in the Tennessee Waltz scandal.

Now the remaining two candidates competing for the District 10 job squared off in their first debate together, just one week after winning their parties' nominations in the primary election.

Thursday night's debate between Democrat Andy Berke and Republican Oscar Brock began on public school education, an issue these two candidates don't see eye to eye.

"It's not just Hamilton County, but around the state of Tennessee. Schools are a complete disaster in Tennessee, and when we say anything else, we're not telling the truth," Brock said at the debate sponsored by the Brainerd Unity Group.

Berke fired back: "I don't think schools are a disaster. I don't think that."

Brock, whose 14- and 11-year-old daughters attend private school, says the state's education system should be reformed from top to bottom.

Berke, who's daughter is a second grader at a public elementary, disagrees.

"We can't be trying to tear down our education system at the same time we're trying to attract people to our communities," Berke said. "We have to say here's our public schools, here's what we've accomplished and here's where we're going with them."

Berke supports a state-minimum wage, which would force employers to pay at or above a certain amount.

But Brock says that would make the state seem unfriendly to business, and as a result, hurt the state's ability to attract and retain companies.

"You can't turn around and run them off by putting a bunch of state-imposed rules on the way they behave while they're here," Brock said.

Health insurance another big topic, such as the state's Cover Kids program which provides coverage for needy children.

Problem is, only a small portion of 100,000-plus kids eligible are enrolled.

"This is a good program where we're not reaching the people who need it most," Berke said. "We've got to go through the public schools to educate people about this. The government is trying to do that."

But Brock says maybe the government shouldn't be the ones responsible.

"If you're providing a government service and people are taking advantage of it, there's a reason," Brock said. "We need to find the solutions and make them available to all Tennesseans, and it shouldn't necessarily be a government-driven solution."

People across the state are watching this race. It's all because whoever wins will determine the balance of power in the State Senate.

If the Democrat wins this race, the Senate will remain split evenly. If the Republican wins, the GOP will gain control of the chamber.

For more information about the candidates, log on their Web sites:

http://www.andyberke.com/

http://www.brockforsenate.com/