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Fetterman, Bartos quick to point out differences during debate

PITTSBURGH — The two leading candidates for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor were quick to point out their differences during a debate held at WPXI-TV on Saturday, exactly one month before the election.

John Fetterman, the Democratic mayor of Braddock, is running alongside current Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

Jeff Bartos, a Republican businessman from Reading, is on the ticket with Scott Wagner.

The questions, given by moderator and Channel 11 News anchor Katherine Amenta, covered a range of topics, from recreational marijuana to capital punishment, education, the opioid epidemic and guns.

"I support an assault rifle ban in (Pennsylvania),” said Fetterman. “There's no reason to have these military-grade weapons in the hands of civilians."

Bartos said he believes the focus needs to be more on mental health.

"We woefully underfund mental health services around our country and certainly here in the commonwealth. But the way to get at that, we need to free resources up to handle the massive challenges we have,” Bartos said.

Fetterman described himself and his running mate, Wolf, as allies to unions.

“To any union member, brothers and sisters watching, any former union members, retired or otherwise — my running mate, Gov. Wolf, protects unions in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said. “Scott Wagner, if he was elected, would destroy unions.”

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Bartos criticized Wolf for accepting campaign donations from unions, saying Wolf is “owned” by public sector unions.

“Gov. Wolf works for the teachers. We will work for the parents of Pennsylvania and we will work for the teachers of Pennsylvania,” Bartos said.

Fetterman has been an open supporter of recreational marijuana, even suggesting that Pennsylvania go "full Colorado." However, Wolf does not believe the state is ready yet, having recently legalized medical marijuana.

Both Bartos and Wagner oppose legalizing recreational marijuana.

 

Cox Media Group

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