By Jerry Cornfield
Special to the Reporter
In their final debate Wednesday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene and Republican challenger Pedro Celis didn’t break any new ground or exchange withering verbal punches.
They did highlight their differences on issues ranging from the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak and the ISIS threat to immigration reform, the minimum wage and a state initiative for universal background checks of gun-buyers.
The hour-long debate, in the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, was a coming home of sorts for the candidates, who are both former Microsoft employees. A crowd of about 150 people watched the event, which was hosted by Seattle City Club and was to be televised Wednesday night on KCTS-TV.
DelBene is seeking a second term representing the 1st Congressional District, which stretches from Medina and the Points Communities to the Canadian border.
The 52-year-old Medina resident, who is a former mid-level Microsoft executive, said she deserves another term because she’s fulfilled her pledge to seek bipartisan solutions to problems.
She cited collaboration with Republicans on a farm bill — “the best farm bill we’ve ever had for Washington farmers.” She also pointed to legislation to rein in the domestic surveillance program of the National Security Administration and the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which is important to Boeing.
Celis, 55, of Redmond, a former technical officer with Microsoft, countered that the country under the leadership of President Barack Obama is “going in the wrong direction.” Voters should elect him to ensure a better “check and balance” than the incumbent.
A native of Mexico, Celis spoke of how he and his wife have become citizens and lived the “American dream.” His campaign is about ensuring others can too, Celis said.
“I am not running for Congress to be somebody,” he said. “I am running to serve.”
One of the first questions for the candidates regarded the U.S. health care system and whether it can be trusted or if the federal government should do more in its response to the Ebola crisis.
DelBene avoided criticizing the federal response but said “there’s more we can do.” For example, she said, Congress could approve additional resources for federal agencies and health care providers.
Celis said he didn’t feel the problem was being “addressed properly.” Afterward, he elaborated, saying he thinks the U.S. is “taking risks that are unnecessary,” such as allowing flights into the country from West Africa.
On the threat of ISIS, Celis said the president should not have ruled out the use of ground troops. Celis didn’t endorse sending troops now, but said the president has eliminated the option, and ground troops might be needed.
“I think he needs to decide if he wants to win the war or not,” Celis said.
DelBene voted to support Obama’s plan to train moderate Syrian rebels to fight ISIS. The president should not send U.S. troops until Congress has a “full debate” on the matter, she said.
On the hot-button issue of immigration reform, DelBene reiterated her support of a House bill to improve border security and provide a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants already in the country. That bill did not get voted on in the Republican-controlled chamber.
Celis reiterated his call for policies that open the doors wider to legal immigrants but maintain “high fences” to keep out those who would enter illegally.
DelBene challenged Celis to be more specific — whether he would have supported the House bill. Celis didn’t answer that question, but he did say he favors allowing more foreign workers and helping those brought here illegally as children to seek citizenship.
On other questions, DelBene endorsed increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and said the federal Affordable Care Act is helping millions of people but can be improved.
Celis opposes a higher federal minimum wage — “I see minimum wage as a starting job not a living job” — and wants to repeal and redo the federal health care law.
On Initiative 594, the ballot measure to require background checks on private sales of guns, DelBene said she will vote for it. Celis said he is opposed.
The two had a short exchange on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the so-called Hobby Lobby case, which allowed that privately held company to deny insurance coverage to women employees for certain contraceptives because of the owners’ religious beliefs.
Celis agreed with the ruling and DelBene disagreed.
She challenged him, saying the ruling treats corporations as people, while, she said, they are not.
“I disagree with that,” he said. “You should not be taking that right from companies to make those choices.”
Celis tried to pin DelBene down on a question that she’s avoided answering throughout her term — whether the Keystone oil pipeline between Canada and Nebraska should be built.
He backs the project, saying it would be good for the economy and good for the environment.
DelBene was steadfastly non-committal: “This is the president’s decision.” When pressed afterward on her preferred outcome, she repeated, “I think it’s the president’s decision.”
Jerry Cornfield is a political reporter who covers Olympia for The Daily Herald in Everett, which is among the Washington state newspapers in the Sound Publishing group. He can be contacted at jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
