31st Congressional District candidates D-Pete Aguilar (left) and R-Paul Chabot (right) shake hands at center stage prior to their debate Monday evening in Memorial Chapel on the University of Redlands campus. (Will Lester — Staff photographer)
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 10/20/14, 9:10 PM PDT | Updated: 48 secs ago
Congressional candidates Pete Aguilar and Paul Chabot debated the issues of the state’s 31st District in front of a lively crowd Monday at the University of Redlands.
More than 1,000 people attended the debate hosted by the Redlands Daily Facts, which gave each candidate an opportunity to address national issues such as illegal immigration, social security and terrorism.
Aguilar, a Democrat and Mayor of Redlands and Chabot, a Republican and Navy veteran, each had their fair share of heckles and encouragement from their supporters in the audience throughout the debate.
Brian Janiskee, head of the political science department at Cal State San Bernardino and Beau Yarbrough, reporter for Los Angeles News Group, served as panelists for the debate.
Frank Pine, managing editor for the San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the Redlands Daily Facts, thanked the audience and introduced Dr. Ralph Kuncl, University of Redlands president.
Michael Anastasi, vice president and executive editor of the Los Angeles News Group, which includes the Redlands Daily Facts, thanked the candidates and their families.
Toni Momberger, Redlands Daily Facts editor, served as moderator.
On changes to the county’s current immigration policy, Aguilar said there is a need for comprehensive reform and a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented people living in the country.
“We need to offer a path to citizenship if they’re willing to pay taxes and submit to a background check. It’s good for the economy and it keeps our region together,” Aguilar said. “The notion that you can just deport 11 million people is the wrong policy. My opponent supported a radical Arizona proposal here in California that would support racially profiling. That’s the wrong policy for this region and San Bernardino County.”
Advertisement
Chabot said first and foremost, the border needs to be secured and that United States’ federal aid money should be used to secure South American nations.
“If you’re a mom and dad in Mexico or Latin American countries with corruption and violence you want to get out,” he said. “We should mandate our federal aid dollars go to Mexico to do two things, increasing societal rule of law and rooting out corrupting, so the good people of Mexico want to stay safe in their country.”
To read entire story, click here.
From Pete, “lets just let all the people who came here illegally stay here and damn all the people that are in line awaiting review by immigration to enter legally.” From Chabot’ “Send money to a corrupt country so that they can find ways to eliminate the corruption.” God, are these the only two people we can find to run for this office?And 1000 people went to see this spectacle?
Votes need to go to the party doing the least amount of damage. Both of them suck, but dems suck harder.
I took Chabot stance to mean Mexico needs to use all the money we send to handle their internal problems.
Mexico dug up 43 mass graves and did not find the slaughtered students.
We are the military power of the world but allow our southern neighbor continue to bring illegal drugs to our country unabated. Are we complicit in this heinous crime?
Mexico’s population bomb is supposed to be done and pressures to illegally cross our borders should be done?
The illegals come and stay because they get jobs.
They also have in CAL a state legislature focused on their needs.
Aguilar is a better at pandering.
Got you all fooled! We gonna let all the mexicans in! More votes for me.
Illegal aliens Ole! let’s continue to turn CA into a third world sht hole! ole!