The debate between state senator candidates touched on issues that directly affect Ball State students, including the job market and the possibility of a statewide smoking ban.
The Office of Student Life hosted the meeting between Democratic incumbent of Indiana District 26 Sue Errington and Republican challenger Doug Eckerty in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Cardinal Hall on Thursday.
Students, faculty and Muncie community members attended to listen to each candidate expressed their concerns and opinions on issues facing the state of Indiana and the Delaware County area.
The hour-long debate consisted of questions from moderators and the 170 audience members. Upon entering Cardinal Hall, each audience member was given a card to write any questions he or she had for the candidates.
The candidates addressed issues including jobs, education and renewable energy.
Both candidates supported the use of funds to assist in local classrooms.
Errington had a strong opinion on developing and using renewable resources, while Eckerty had a strong focus on the need to cap property taxes.
One issue that divided the candidates down the middle was the idea of a statewide smoking ban.
Eckerty said imposing a ban would hurt businesses even more in the struggling economy, which owners don't need right now.
"That is something that we can consider down the road, but not right now. There is too much economic hardship to impose something like that," Eckerty said.
Errington disagreed, saying that now is the time to prevent diseases and the cost of treating them.
"Insurance is going up," she said. "If they are on Medicare or Medicaid, that's tax payers money going to treat diseases that are 100 percent preventable."
Mitch Isaacs, associate director of Student Life, help plan the debate. He said Ball State was approached by the Eckerty and Errington campaigns about five weeks ago about holding a debate on campus. After each campaign agreed on the terms, the Office of Student Life set up the location and finished the remaining planning.
University Democrats and College Republicans were both at the debate, and each organization was impressed with its respective candidate.
"I think tonight went well for Senator Errington. She laid out in clear terms what she stands for," said Nolan Born, University Democrats president. "I would have liked to see more students, but it's understandable. A lot of students are from out of town and they don't know the local candidates, but that is something that we are trying to change."
Holly Gillham, public relations chairwoman for College Republicans, said she was impressed by Eckerty's stance on capping property taxes.
"If the taxes go up on my parent's home, that's less money that they can spend on my education," she said.
Junior computer science major Gordon Heck works with College Republicans but came to the debate to hear both perspectives on issues that concern him.
"I don't like voting straight Republican," he said. "I like to hear what they have to say."
Isaacs said the debate was a good chance for students to hear the politicians' thoughts on key points for the upcoming election.
"When you actually get to be in a room with people that are making decisions about our lives, I think it adds a dimension of reality," he said. "It takes away that distance that we sometimes feel with our government where we feel like those are decision that are made else where and they comer here and have chance to interact with them as people, not just images on a screen or a voice on a radio. It makes the whole process a lot more accessible and real."
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