Photo by: Jacob Rokeach

A week before the gubernatorial election, Republican Bob Beauprez and Democrat Bill Ritter were on campus to debate the issues facing Colorado in the next few years.

Speaking at the Gates Concert Hall Oct. 31 in a televised debate, they discussed health care, illegal immigrants and environmental issues.

Beauprez said his experience – as a politician, banker and dairy farmer – makes him a more desirable candidate for governor.

“If you’re going to get in a plane tomorrow morning, you’re probably going to want an experienced pilot in the cockpit,” he said.

Ritter said his “vision” differentiates him from his opponent.

“It’s not just about the next four years. It’s not just about our generation. It’s about our kids and our grandkids and it’s about 20 years and 50 years down the road,” Ritter said.

Beauprez criticized Ritter’s decision to plea bargain with illegal immigrants who faced drug charges while Ritter was Denver district attorney.

Ritter said he didn’t think his plea bargaining was a mistake.

Ritter said Beauprez is isolating a small number of the 61,000 cases he handled during his 11-year tenure.

Ritter defended his record by pointing out that he had sent 12,000 criminals to prison, thousands more than district attorneys in other Colorado counties.

Beauprez also questioned how Ritter would solve the state’s health care problem – some 770,000 Coloradoans remain uninsured – without raising taxes. Ritter said he believed there were “other components in place.”

“[It is] an absolutely unrealistic claim that we can provide health care insurance to 770,000 people and not raise taxes,” Beauprez said.

The two did agree on some issues, including how to handle the state’s major transportation problem, creating sustainable funding methods.

They also both said they supported the death penalty, would not change Colorado’s blue laws prohibiting the sale of cars and alcohol on Sunday and would not support state funds being used for stem-cell research.

Ritter was booed by the audience a number of times when he gave extended answers during the “lightning round,” when the candidates were to answer questions with just yes or no responses.

When asked if they support in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, Beauprez said no.

Ritter said, “For kids who have been here three years and are proficient in English, yes.”

The two also admitted to a third-grader named Paul, who asked if they always wanted to be governor, that they never considered running for the position as a kid.

While Beauprez said he wanted to be a football coach, Ritter said, “I think I wanted to be president of my third grade class.”