Back-to-Back Face-to-Face Debates In F.C. for Moran, Cheney & Hurysz

The three candidates on the ballot for the 8th District of Virginia U.S. Congressional seat did back-to-back debates in the City of Falls Church this week. Incumbent Democrat Jim Moran, Republican challenger Lisa Marie Cheney and independent Jim Hurysz faced off at the luncheon meeting of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce Tuesday and at a Falls Church League of Women Voters' forum last night.

Moran is favored to win an eighth term as the congressman from the district that includes the City of Falls Church, but his opponents are mounting spirited challenges.

Tonight, three more face-to-face debates involving the three candidates are scheduled in the district, one before the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance in Ballston, one before the Rock Springs Civic Association in Arlington and one before the Landmark Mews Association in Alexandria.

In the nearby 11th Congressional District, incumbent Republican Tom Davis, Democratic challenger Ken Longmyer and independent Joseph P. Oddo will debate tonight at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia on Little River Turnpike.

With less than two weeks to the Nov. 2 election, Moran and Cheney, and Davis and Longmyer, are also stumping for their respective parties' presidential slates, while Hurysz is backing Kerry and Edwards.

At the Chamber of Commerce debate at the Italian Cafe Tuesday, the 8th District candidates focused on domestic policy in response to questions posed by Chamber chair-elect Helene Stafford.

Personal attacks were limited to Cheney's closing remarks, after Moran had completed his. Cheney said that 8th district voters "deserve a better voice in Congress" and claimed that "negative things" about Moran had hurt his effectiveness.

But while Moran acknowledged a "deep philosophical divide on the role of government" between him and his GOP challenger, he focused on his accomplishments over 14 years for both the region and the City of Falls Church. "Northern Virginia has the strongest economy in the entire U.S.," he said, citing a 3.1% job growth rate. He said he is proud of his achievements as a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in bringing economic growth to the area, in conjunction with his Congressional colleagues.

Hurysz said that as a small business consultant accepting no special interest contributions, he recognizes that far more funding, still, needs to come to the region for infrastructure upgrades, and tax breaks need to focus on the small businesses here that are creating jobs.

Cheney said she's a native of the area (her brother in law is a member of the Falls Church School Board) who would focus on issues of importance to her constituents. She said that "red tape needs to be removed from small businesses" to further growth in the region, and asked about the federal deficit, she said, "We need to control spending driven by special interests," and cited that going after fraud in the Medicare system could free up $17 billion.

But Hurysz said that was a small drop in the bucket of a federal deficit grown to $422 billion, blaming the war in Iraq and funds for, among other things, he said, "A ineffective missile defense system that Ms. Cheney works for."

Moran said the current federal deficit "represents a $10 trillion reversal," from the surpluses of the Clinton administration. "This is the worst in history, worse than in the days of Herbert Hoover," he said, blaming the Bush tax cuts favoring the wealthy. He noted that earlier projections had been for a $397 billion surplus by this time, but that it has been turned into a $422 billion deficit by the Republican controlled White House, House and Senate.

Cheney defended the Patriot Act, noting that it provides a public service and adds judicial oversight in areas of the law where there previously were none. Hurysz, holding up a thick copy of the legislation, said, "I've read it and it's bad. It needs extensive reform." Moran said he voted for it originally, but, "It's the way it's been implemented that troubles me the most." He added, "It undermines civil liberties and has been abused."

Moran noted his "special affection" for the City of Falls Church, saying he'd helped bring here $500,000 to help secure a loan for 92 affordable housing units in Winter Hill, a federal grant for the GEORGE bus system, and money for the school system, for the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the John Jackson Cultural Center. "There's more federal funding for Falls Church on a per capita basis than anywhere in the U.S.," he said.

Cheney cited the influence of her mother as a civil servant, her husband's as an active duty commander in the U.S. Navy and her own as a mother on her desire to be a public servant. "It's the highest honor you can have," she said, "To earn the trust of your constituents."

Last night's F.C. League of Women Voters' debate held at the Council chambers in City Hall was televised by Falls Church Cable Television (Ch. 12 on Cox, Ch. 2 on Starpower), which will replay the debate at 10 a.m. daily from tomorrow through Oct. 26 and from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2. Shows will also be at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 28, at noon Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Nov. 2.