Gubernatorial candidates Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Treasurer Phil Angelides discussed a number of issues important to Californians ?” including education, taxes, immigration and energy ?” at Saturday’s debate at Sacramento State.

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Anticipating the arrivals

Upon the gubernatorial candidates’ arrival, a large crowd gathered near Capistrano Hall ?” the debate’s venue ?” to voice their opinions of the incumbent governor and his Democratic challenger.

Angelides arrived to the sound of his supporters yelling, “Go, Phil, Go” around 4:40 p.m. Schwarzenegger supporters retaliated with, “Four more years,” and his opponents quickly responded, “No more years,” as Angelides made his way through the crowd to enter the hall at its entrance parallel to Sinclair Road.

About an hour later, the crowd made its way to the Capistrano Hall entrance that faces Parking Structure I for Gov. Schwarzenegger’s arrival.

Angelides supporters began yelling, “Veto Arnold.” As the governor’s car drove up to the building, his supporters began to cheer and yell “Four more years,” as his opponents booed.

Afterward, the crowd broke to view the debate at separate screenings provided throughout the campus.

Education

The cost of higher education was one issue the gubernatorial candidates focused on.

During his campaign and throughout the debate, Angelides argued that education would be a key component if he were elected into office.

Angelides stated he would roll back college tuition and fees, increase financial aid and double the number of high school counselors, among other things. He said this would be funded by asking large corporations to pay higher taxes.

Angelides attacked Gov. Schwarzenegger about the cost of higher education, saying the incumbent governor has increased tuition fees throughout this time in office.

“It takes $2,000 more to get a degree from the (California State University),” Angelides said.

Gov. Schwarzenegger countered the attack by noting that tuition fees rose before he took office in November 2003.

“The treasurer always says I want to increase tuition fees,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said. “Before I ran for governor, the Davis administration increased tuition fees by 40 percent.”

Gov. Schwarzenegger also said Angelides was a part of the administration that issued the fee increases and did not join student protests outside of the state Capitol when he was in public office.

“You did not come out. You did not join. Where were you?” Gov. Schwarzenegger said.

According to statistics from the CSU website, the average annual total cost of undergraduate student fees ?” including average costs of health service fees and student body fees ?” was set at $1,890 for the 1998-99 school year, the year former Gov. Gray Davis was elected into office. The current average fee cost is $3,164.

For the next three years, under the Davis administration, the fees ranged between $1,832 and $1,877. In 2002-03, the total cost shot up to $2,005 from the $1,877 in 2001-02. The following year, the fees increased to $2,572 for the 2003-04 academic year.

Under Gov. Schwarzenegger’s watch, the total annual cost of undergraduate student fees went from $2,913 (2004-05) to $3,164 (2005-06). The fees for the current academic year did not increase because Gov. Schwarzenegger issued a fee freeze in January.

California’s economy

California’s budget, deficit and taxes were huge issues at the debate, with each candidate consistently attacking each other.

Angelides, who has argued he will be an advocate for the middle class, said he would close corporate tax loopholes in order to balance California’s budget and fund education. He added that he would provide tax breaks for families who make $100,000 a year or less.

“I’m going to close those corporate tax loopholes that are big enough for you to drive your Hummer through,” Angelides said.

Gov. Schwarzenegger retaliated by saying his challenger endorsed many taxes that affect the middle class ?” including the car tax and farmer tax.

“You have been, so far, for every single tax increase since you have been in public office. -Why don’t you just say right now, ‘I love increasing your taxes,'” Gov. Schwarzenegger said to Angelides.

Angelides replied, saying his stance has remained strong and said noted the governor’s current budget hole.

“You sound like Dennis Hastert and (President George W.) Bush attacking me on taxes,” Angelides said. “My position is clear, and you have a $5 billion hole in the budget.”

Angelides said Gov. Schwarzenegger took millions of dollars from a number of big businesses, including oil companies and pharmaceutical companies. He said the question voters need to ask is: “Who can you trust?”

Gov. Schwarzenegger defended himself and his administration by noting the difference between today’s budget and the budget he faced when he was elected into office.

“We started out with a state that was in a big mess. -And now we have turned the state around because of the help of Democrats and Republicans,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said.

Gov. Schwarzenegger also said this year Democrats and Republicans came together to work out budget issues and that if he is re-elected he will continue working on the budget by promoting cooperation between the two political parties.

According to previous news reports, the state budget was facing a $38 billion deficit in August 2003, three months before Gov. Schwarzenegger took office. Since then, the deficit was brought down to $2.49 billion, according to a May news report. The state Legislature passes the budget, while Gov. Schwarzenegger has signing and line-item veto power over the state budget.

Immigration

A question was posed about the California’s role in border protection between the nation and its neighboring country, Mexico.

The gubernatorial candidates agreed that immigration policies need to be reformed but had different opinions about its process.

Angelides said he would increase border enforcement, support a pragmatic immigration bill, start a guest worker program and create a path to citizenship.

“I would work hard to make (President) Bush live up to his promises,” Angelides said.

Gov. Schwarzenegger said he would secure the borders because there are people coming over here that “want to blow us up.” He added that California must work with employers on obtaining the ability to hire employees outside the U.S. find a way to work with the 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the nation.

“I’m an immigrant, I know what it feels like,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said about being an immigrant wanting to come to the United States to achieve the “American Dream.”

Clean energy

A need for alternative fuels was another topic the gubernatorial candidates agreed on.

Angelides said the nation needs to become less dependent on foreign oil. He attacked the Bush administration for this dependency on foreign oil.

Gov. Schwarzenegger discussed his recent support and passing of energy bills and legislation.

Format, reactions

The debate followed a format developed by a special debate advisory commission made up of journalists, pollsters, citizens, educators and political commentators.

The format called for no opening or closing statements and focused on establishing constant communication between the two candidates.

The debate was available on 61 California broadcast media outlets (40 television and 21 radio stations). Students and the public were able to view the debate at various on-campus locations.Many felt the debate didn’t address issues, but rather was full of personal attacks.

“Based on what I saw tonight, I can’t come to any conclusion,” said Dennis Garrison, a Rosemont High School teacher and advisory panel member. “I think the format was meant to be dialogue, and it was more of a counterattack.”

“Overall, I was rather disappointed by the debate because I came here because I wanted to be informed on the positions of Arnold Schwarzenegger and on Angelides, and when I watched the debate I saw more of attacking on personal choices within each administration,” said sophomore Alexis Diaz.

UC Davis freshman Gabriel Medina added, “I am not satisfied by any of the candidates. They both had good points but I just think that if they worked together they would have something better.”

Additional reporting by Blake Ellington, Ashley Evans and Mary Chou.

Nika Megino can be reached at [email protected]