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Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Issues On WJZ-TV

WJZ-TV, Baltimore (WJZ) ― Governor Robert Ehrlich and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley squared off in two television debates Saturday.

WJZ's Eyewitness News negotiated the first television debate of the campaign, which was taped Saturday afternoon and followed by a live debate at the Maryland Public Television studio Saturday evening.

WJZ's Pat Warren was there as the candidates tackled issues including crime, education, taxes and leadership.

In a reference to the failed state effort to take over the city's worst performing schools, Governor Ehrlich said, "You cannot just run 30 second attack ads and expect people to buy this."

Mayor O'Malley used the debate to describe what he calls "Two Bob Ehrlichs." O'Malley said, "We have the Bob Ehrlich in an election year taking such a great interest in city schools and then you have the Bob Erhlich in the other years [since being elected in 2002}."

Governor Erhlich criticized the Mayor for pointing fingers at the state and federal governments. "That is the leadership style of whining," said Ehrlich.

Some of the sharpest exchanges in the first debate came when WJZ's Denise Koch, who moderated the event, asked about crime and education, issues that both camps have made keys to their campaigns.

O'Malley said when he became Mayor, there were no city schools with a majority of students testing proficient in math and English. Now, the first five grades in all schools meet that standard, he said.

High school graduation rates have also increased from 40 percent to 60 percent during his tenure, the Mayor said. "We still have a ways to go," but the city is making progress, he said.

Ehrlich chided O'Malley for refusing to promise he would not raise taxes if he is elected governor. "There's no need for a general tax increase in the future," he said.

On the environmental front, O'Malley took Ehrlich to task for refusing to give Attorney General J. Joseph Curran authority to join other states in a court suit challenging regulations imposed by the Bush administration that critics said weakened air pollution laws.

"Instead of leading and siding with the health of the Chesapeake Bay, you sided with George Bush," the mayor said.

Ehrlich defended his environmental record, saying the state has preserved 70,000 acres of undeveloped land since he took office.

Ehrlich also touted his program to upgrade sewage treatment plants with a fee on sewage treatment bills that Democrats dubbed the flush tax.

O'Malley ended the debate by holding up a copy of his 10-point plan for his administration, saying he would make government work for the people of Maryland.

In Ehrlich's closing remarks he said, "We've taken Annapolis by storm, test scores are up, crime is down, the economy is booming." Ehrlich concluded, "I now ask for your vote to take Maryland to the next level."

Both campaigns issued news releases immediately following the WJZ debate, declaring their candidate the winner.

Be sure to catch the debate Monday night at 7 p.m. on WJZ-TV and WJZ.com.

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