Gubernatorial candidates Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett faced off Friday night in the first of three scheduled debates leading up to the Nov. 2 elections.
The two gubernatorial hopefuls fielded questions from a panel of three broadcast journalists asking about statewide issues ranging from the economy to education and the proposed high-speed rail line.
Both Walker and Barrett said they would focus primarily on job creation if elected governor.
Barrett used his support of high-speed rail as an example of construction jobs that can be created through government projects.
Walker, who called the rail project a waste of money, said he would declare an ""economic emergency"" his first day in office and call the state Legislature together to solve economic issues, including job creation.
Barrett deemed education the ""number one priority in the budget.""
""If you are concerned about education in this state, hold onto your hat,"" Barrett said. ""The $2.7 billion structural deficit would turn into a $4.5 billion structural deficit with his proposals. Then we will see some severe, severe cuts to education.""
Walker said he plans to give districts and schools, including UW System schools, more local control of how to allocate funds and use them wisely.
""Every kid in this state must have access to world-class education,"" Walker said. ""But as an employer, and like other employers I talk to across the state, it's also an economic imperative.""
Barrett repeatedly criticized Walker's proposed across-the-board tax cuts, which Barrett said will cost up to $1.8 billion.
Walker compared Barrett to Gov. Jim Doyle, saying, ""Every one of the major policies he's running on are the same things that Jim Doyle has taken us down the wrong path."" Barrett mentioned to Walker that ""Governor Doyle isn't running"" more than once.
In a CNN poll released Wednesday, Walker led Barrett by three percentage points among registered voters and 11 percentage points among likely voters.
