New York State gubernatorial debate 2010

Candidates from the "Rent is Too Damn High" and the "Anti-Prohibition" parties graced the stage at Hofstra University alongside five other candidates for the New York State Gubernatorial Debate 2010 on Monday evening.

Alongside party favorites, Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic candidate, and Carl Paladino, the Republican candidate, were five unknown contenders for the governorship ranging from an ex-madam, Kristin Davis, to Howie Hawkins, a teamster running with the Green party.

The candidates were asked a series of eight questions bookended by opening and closing statements. The 90-minute debate covered a variety of audience and voter-provided questions, ranging from corruption, environmental issues, gay marriage and unemployment.

Carl Paladino

Republican/Conservative/Tax Payers Party

"My critics, they want to say I'm angry. No, I'm passionate about saving New York."

Paladino urged for greater transparency in Albany, citing rampant corruption by career politicians like his opponent Cuomo. Defining himself as "not a career politician," Paladino supported dramatic cuts to the Medicaid budget and ending "faceless" education mandates from the state. One of his main concerns was the unemployment rate, which he attributed to debilitating state taxes and suggested across-the-board tax cuts to stimulate the economy.

Jimmy McMillan

Rent is Too Damn High Party

"If you want to marry a shoe, I'll marry you."

McMillan's main issue can be summarized in one statement that he reiterated throughout the debate: "rent is too damn high." He proposed making N.Y. an independent state, and following in Obama's footsteps to establish racial equality. McMillan suggested that a dramatic cut in rent would lead to an additional three to six trillion dollars in consumer surplus, solving the deficit and stimulating the economy.

Andrew Cuomo

Democrat/Working Families Party

"We didn't inherit the earth from our parents, we are loaned the earth from our children."

Cuomo urged that New York should return to its glory days when it was a model for an efficient and effective state government. Cuomo acknowledged that New York voters no longer have any faith in Albany and promised to cut fraud and spending. Cuomo stated that his number one priority was unemployment, citing that over "800,000" New Yorkers are currently unemployed. Cuomo also supports the development of green jobs and renewable sources of energy.

Charles Barron

Freedom Party

"We need progressive tax reform."

Barron told the audience at Hofstra that it was time to make the rich in N.Y. start contributing to the welfare of the state. He suggested a progressive tax increase that would tax the rich progressively based on income. Barron also insisted that an important issue for the future governor is the racism across the state, stating that less than one percent of state contracts are given to African American males. Barron urged for the abolishment of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and for a cost-cutting single-payer health care system.

Howie Hawkins

Green Party

"The Green New Deal."

Hawkins described himself as a teamster who unloads trucks for a living and a Green Candidate for radical reform. Hawkins promised that if elected he would support free tuition at all SUNY and CUNY schools and pave the way for statewide proportional representation. Hawkins added that rural schools, like those in his hometown, are severely underfunded and asked Albany for equity in educational funding.

Kristin Davis

Anti-Prohibition Party

"The key difference between the MTA and my former escort agency is I operated one set of books and I offered on-time and reliable service."

Davis, who claimed that it was her escort service that supplied Eliot Spitzer with prostitutes, kept her platform simple, supporting the legalization of marijuana and casinos. Davis argued that legalizing marijuana and casinos would not only raise millions in new revenue for the state, but also add new jobs that New Yorkers desperately need. If elected, she promised that she would highlight the "inequity" in Albany and end corruption.

Warren Redlich

Libertarian Party

"Stop the waste."

Redlich told voters that as a Libertarian candidate, he favored a smaller government with less power and urged that it would lead to less bureaucratic corruption. Redlich cited that one of the main reasons for the state's deficit was the wasteful spending on bureaucratic jobs and across the board pork barrel spending. Redlich urged that by cutting the pay for state workers, privatizing the MTA and keeping a close watch on Albany officials, the deficit could be eliminated.

E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com