Jerry McNerney and Dean Andal go toe-to-toe on local, national issues

More than 300 people from all over the 11th Congressional District packed into Monte Vista Middle School on Saturday night to watch Rep. Jerry McNerney, D- Pleasanton, and his Republican challenger Dean Andal of Stockton square off in their only public forum.

Questions ranging from national to local, including illegal immigration, the Wall Street bailout, domestic oil drilling, abortion, California's high-speed rail initiative and Andal's part in the criticism by the grand jury of San Joaquin Delta College, were submitted by the audience and asked by four community panelists.

The Iraq war stirred up a debate, with Andal accusing McNerney of voting twice on two occasions not to fund the troops.

"I support our troops and voted repeatedly to give our troops weapons and armor to protect and defend themselves," McNerney said, "but I will not vote on an open-ended policy by this president to continue the war forever."

McNerney added that the only way to end the war is to disagree with the president on appropriations bills and that he was doing everything possible to stop putting troops in harm's way.

With that, Andal replied, "You haven't supported the troops. If it was up to you, they wouldn't have been paid. The money comes from the Iraq appropriations bill."

In terms of local issues, a question was asked about the possible conversion of the Tracy property formerly known as the Antenna Farm to a solar energy farm and how both candidates would fast-track the process to convert the land.

"Putting up a solar farm there is a great idea," McNerney said. "It's great for the city of Tracy. It will create jobs. It will help move the new energy technology industry in our area."

Supporters had hundreds of signs at Saturday night's political forum.

Andal agreed with McNerney on the matter — one of only a handful of issues that crossed partisan lines.

In a discussion of California Proposition 8, an initiative that would eliminate same-sex marriage, McNerney said he firmly stood against it.

"I'm against Proposition 8, because I'm against discrimination against Americans in this country," he said drawing huge applause from his supporters.

Andal said he is in favor of the proposition and that he disagreed with the decision of the Supreme Court to redefine marriage in California.

"I believe marriage should be reserved between a man and a woman," he said, "and I think there's something very unfortunate about the Supreme Court's decision where they took the express will of Californians after over a hundred years of a position being one way."

Saturday's forum, organized and sponsored by the Tracy Press, is the only joint appearance this election season for the candidates.

Andal made it a point to address McNerney's cancellation of a prior forum, but McNerney fired back by saying he was there but Andal didn't stay around long enough to see him.

In the 11th District, voter registration is 41 percent Republicans and 38.6 percent Democrats, but attendees Saturday night said there were more Democrats in the audience than Republicans.

Two years ago, McNerney defeated veteran Republican Rep. Richard Pombo of Tracy.

Joel Juanitas of Tracy, a registered Republican and Andal supporter, said he enjoyed the forum and was happy with his candidate's performance.

"I think Dean did a good job of bringing up his (McNerney's) voting record to defend his position," he said.

Debbie Cross of Livermore, a registered Democrat, said she thought McNerney remained calm under pressure when she felt he was slandered throughout the night.

"He was poised and never resulted to any of the low blows that Andal threw his way," she said. "I think the audience walked away with a better picture of who Andal is tonight, and I hope that they realize who the best candidate is for the job."