Opponents Kirsten Gillibrand and Alexander “Sandy” Treadwell took few direct jabs at one another in their first debate Tuesday, a town hall style forum where the questions were culled from video interviews with local residents.

The Democrat and Republican candidates in the 19th and 22nd congressional districts also joined the congresswoman and her challenger on stage at the Bardavon Opera House.

Gillibrand, a lawyer and a Democrat finishing her first term in office, and Treadwell, a former state Republican chairman and secretary of state both look at their role in the district as facilitators to solve local issues, and both spoke strongly about developing alternative energy sources. But they differed on how to accomplish energy independence, the purpose of earmarks and taxes.

Treadwell said Gillibrand has signed on to biggest tax increase in history.

“I didn’t raise anybody’s taxes, we voted for a budget and when you vote for a budget you have to assume all the laws on the books are true,” Gillibrand said.

Afterward, Gillibrand’s chief of staff explained Congress, by law, must assume the Bush tax cuts would expire in 2010. The budget Gillibrand voted for includes a reserve fund to pay for middle class tax cuts in the future.

Gillibrand’s spokesman called Treadwell’s performance a promise to carry on Bush policies. The Treadwell camp continued to hammer the congresswoman on her votes with concern to raising taxes.

Gillibrand defended her position on earmarks otherwise known as pork.

“An earmark is a direct federal investment Congress chooses instead of the presidentI think I know my district better and where money should go,” she said. “My opponent suggests skipping earmarks for a year and giving the amount to state government. The Senate would never pass it.”

As presidential candidate John McCain did in the last debate with Barack Obama, Treadwell described the plight of one voter a truck driver named Bill Sutton and his struggle to pay for gas.

Gillibrand said Americans should look at developing alternative energy sources the way they looked at landing on the moon.

Up next

U.S. Rep Kirsten Gillibrand D-Greenport and Republican challenger Sandy Treadwell are scheduled for two more debates before election day.

WMHT-TV and the Times Union co-sponsor a debate between Gillibrand, and Treadwell, to be aired on WMHT Ch. 17 at 9 p.m. Thursday. They are scheduled to meet again Tuesday in a debate to be aired at 7p.m. on NewsChannel 13.

Source: Times Union