Congressional candidates Howie Hawkins and Rep. James Walsh (R-Onondaga) met Monday night in Maxwell Hall for the first and only time this election to argue their platforms to voters.

Moderated by Student Association President Andrew Lederman, the debate focused primarily upon environmentalism, federal financial aid and conflicting opinions on a draft for the war in Iraq.

Walsh, the incumbent Republican candidate, has represented Syracuse for the past sixteen years and has served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee for the past twelve years.

Howie Hawkins, the only balloted opponent to Walsh, is running under the Peace and Justice Party ticket, with the additional support from the Green Party. There is no Democratic Party challenger to Walsh.

Walsh frequently highlighted his efforts to maintain Syracuse’s ecosystem and other county issues, while Hawkins took on national and international affairs.

‘The cleanup of Onondaga Lake would not be proceeding on pace if it were not for the federal government’s involvement,’ Walsh said. ‘We’ve appropriated over $150 million for the cleanup that lake. It’s going to be a tremendous asset to the community.’

Walsh fielded many environmental questions, deliberating over the Republicans’ traditional views.

‘There are very conservative Democrats that are far tougher on the environment than I am,’ Walsh said in an interview following the debate. ‘These are the issues that my constituents care about, so I’m engaged in them.’

Walsh supported a plan to bring chilled water from Lake Ontario to cool the air in Syracuse, which will later put the clean water into Onondaga Lake.

‘It will work. We just have to see if it will work out financially,’ Walsh said.

Hawkins’ environmental policy included more radical changes.

‘It’s time to move from fossil fuels to alternatives,’ Hawkins said. ‘Phase out nuclear power.’

Hawkins also outlined a plan to improve Syracuse’s 100-year-old sewage system.

‘If the sewers were separated, the rain water would flow into the streets and sewage would flow into the metro plants and we wouldn’t need these regional treatment facilities that we put on the south side and on Armory Square,’ Hawkins said.

When the topic of financial aid for college students was brought up, Hawkins called for financial aid reform.

‘Aid should be based on need,’ Hawkins said. ‘Only people who are middle income or upper-middle income are entitled to take advantage of it.’

Walsh, in contrast, defended the current system.

‘We’ve increased Pell grants approximately $13 billion.’ Walsh said. ‘The grant amount is up over $4,000 and it will continue to grow. Is it perfect? No. But the federal government does, I think, fulfill its roll by providing tax credits to middle income families by providing Pell grants and other incentives.’

The issue of gay marriage also took a central role.

Walsh stood in line with the Republican Party and his voting record where he argued in favor of a constitutional amendment against gay marriage, but did say he would support civil unions.

‘I would not oppose and, in fact, would give apt support to the idea of some sort of legal designation for a partnership between two men or two women,’ Walsh said.

Hawkins, though, supported the legalization of gay marriage.

‘They should be able to get the same benefits as any other couple,’ Hawkins said. ‘They are the way they are, they didn’t choose to be that way, and they should be equal under the law.’

The issue of a military draft came up during the debate, a concern for many students.

‘We’re having a backdoor draft already by people whose commitment period is up and they’re being told they have to stay in,’ Hawkins said. ‘And then there are proposals for another form of a backdoor draft. If you look at Kerry’s Web site, you’ll see plans for universal mandatory public service and military’s one of the options.’

Walsh was enormously critical of suspicions of a draft.

‘I believe absolutely there will be no draft. Why? Because we have a much better military without one,’ Walsh said. ‘Don’t vote based on the draft because it’s a bogus issue.’

Lederman was enthusiastic about the debate, which was organized by the Student Association.

Past efforts suffered from lack of attendance or missing candidates, but turnout at this event filled the lectern and the audience.

‘A lot of people came out and took part, and there were a lot of great issues brought forth,’ Lederman said. ‘The congressman obviously has a lot more experience, but (Hawkins) really held his own, even though he hasn’t held political office yet.’

Published on October 25, 2004 at 12:00 pm