DAPHNE — A.J. Cooper and Lee “Trip” Pittman, candidates in the District 32 state Senate election, on Tuesday debated a number of issues affecting Baldwin County.

Both men vie for the seat Bradley Byrne vacated after having been named chancellor of the Alabama Post-Secondary Edu-cation System. The election is Oct. 16.

FOREIGN PRODUCTS

The candidates first debated the safety of foreign products and how the public is being made aware of the situation after the fact.

Cooper, a Democrat, said it is a federal matter and state law is pre-empted from the matter. But, he said, “we can make sure unsafe products are stopped at the border and enforce federal regulations.”

Pittman, a Republican, referring to leaden toys that have made headlines, said, “We need to make sure that they (federal officials) are enforcing the laws.”

The second issue focused on flood insurance, flood damage claims and wind damage.

“We should prevent building in those locations,” Pittman said of flood-prone areas.

“We need to try to encourage officials to finish the maps,” he said, of a chart that would show where flooding damage isn’t insured without increased rates.

“One of the things that we have learned about insurance companies is that none are faithful,” Cooper said. “They want your money for premiums, then they don’t want to pay you for your losses.”

“Either your place gets flooded or blown away, if your property is on a map, then they should pay you,” Cooper said.

STATE'S STANDARDS

The next question focused on raising the state’s standards. Two views were portrayed: a healthy state with a growing industry and then a state of rural regions without growth and a poor quality of life.

“Those in parts of the state are well off, but look at Mobile with new developments; there’s a standard of living that we would want for ourselves that isn’t there,” Cooper said, referring to manufacturing that has been brought to the state.

“We need to help train people, so they can get the things they need with one job,” Pittman said.

“We need new avenues for school, a dual enrollment where kids can get a technical diploma and a high-school diploma at the same time,” Pittman said.

A BALANCED BUDGET

Next, candidates debated how to pass a balanced state budget.

Pittman said he liked prior-year budgeting; he said estimated growth can follow in the next year’s revenue and repercussions can be avoided.

“I believe in limiting the amount of money they can spend,” he said. “The budget is there for a reason; one thing worse than raising taxes is raising debt.”

“We’re always going to have a fundamentally stupid way to manage our economics,” Cooper said.

Cooper said the governor needs to call a special legislative session that lasts until the budget has been completed.

“People in Baldwin County should tell the government that they don’t want things as usual,” Cooper said as round one of the debate concluded.

PUBLIC OPINION:

THE CAUSEWAY

The debate’s second round included questions and concerns from voters. The first topic focused on business land use and ideas for the Causeway.

“It is my belief to the maximum that it (the Causeway) should not be developed,” Cooper said. Protecting environmental areas like estuaries and wetlands should be a concern, he said.

“At best, low-scale, clean developments, not condos” should be among those projects considered for the Causeway,” Cooper said.

“It’s a very sensitive area; I would discourage development (on the Causeway),” Pittman said. “We need to leave it as it is.”

“Keep it for fishing, boat launching and crabbing — just maintain it,” he said.

PACS

Voters wanted to know where candidates stood on political action committees — that is, private groups that fund causes such as electing an official or promoting legislation — and accountability.

“If you accept PAC funding, then the government is not for the citizens,” Pittman said.

Pittman’s campaign policy declines any PAC funding and his camp has returned all checks involving PACs, he said.

His campaign also limits the donation amount that one person or business gives at one time. “We want to not have any strings attached,” he said.

“We don’t accept any PACs,” Cooper said, adding that he had even returned a check from the state Democratic Party.

COURT REFORM

The next question focused on the candidates’ opinions of court reform, and corresponding costs.

“I do support court reform,” Pittman said, adding he believes attention should be given to how juries are picked, the amount someone can win in a ruling and who pays the court costs. He said the latter is important because he has seen small businesses suffer from legal fees.

“I think any 12 of you are people we can trust,” Cooper said, referring to anyone in the crowd who could be part of a jury. “… I’m not willing to trust any politician to tell 12 people what is fair,” he added.

SALES TAX

Another question from voters focused on the sales tax on food and the possibilities of eliminating it.

“You would have the responsibility of coming up with the amount lost,” Cooper said.

“We need to insist our governor bring industry to our county, enough so that our young people can work and live here,” he added.

“It should over time be eliminated,” Pittman said.

”I would listen for new businesses looking to locate in Alabama and encourage them to come to Baldwin County, he said.

”It’s how you get elected: it all starts with honesty. I want to improve quality of life, manage to get growth in the county, improve education and protect the environment,“ he said in closing remarks.

“Each of you are the most important person in our republic; you are citizens. The state Senate is not a place for new politicians or people who want to be politicians,” Cooper said, referring to Pittman’s lack of a political record.

The League of Women Voters of Baldwin County — a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes political responsibility— hosted the event, which was held at the Daphne Civic Center.