Governor candidates debate in Idaho Falls
Idaho’s gubernatorial candidates had their first debate in eastern Idaho Thursday.
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and A.J. Balukoff squared off with each other at the Idaho State University’s Bennion Student Union Building in Idaho Falls. The debate was sponsored by the City Club of Idaho Falls.
Several topics were discussed, including same-sex marriage.
Otter says he will fight for the Idaho constitution, which says marriage is between a man and a woman.
His challengers both disagree, saying even if Idahoan’s pass a law, it is discrimination and trumped by the U.S. Constitution.
“In 2006, Idaho looked at it and said we are going to change our constitution. And they asked people of Idaho and go to the polls and vote for a constitutional amendment, Article Three, Section 28 of the state constitution, to define legal marriage in Idaho, as a union between one man and one woman.And from that all of the detractors, and probably including the author of that question, that all of a sudden Idaho is anti-gay.That we are anti-something. We are not. Idaho is pro-traditional marriage. And I am not going to do anything to put that in danger,” said Otter.
“No matter how many of our citizens vote to pass the law, we cannot pass a law that violates the United State Constitution. This is about discrimination, treating all people with fairness and respect.Regardless of what our personal belief may be, we still need to treat them equally,” said Balukoff.
Libertarian John Bujak was in the audience at the debate. He spoke to our reporter about the same-sex issue.
Bujak said, “I’m Christian, and I believe in traditional marriage. But I also believe that people have constitutional rights in this country to believe differently from me. A First Amendment right to believe different religious beliefs. Or to say things different that I believe. I also believe they have the constitutional right under the 14th Amendment to equal protection under the law. So when I look at the issue of gay marriage, it’s no surprise to me that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, has reversed the decision, of Idaho citizens, and defining the what is going to be traditional marriage in Idaho is between one man and one woman.”
The entire City Club debate will be aired on the Local News 8 NOW Channel 8.4 Friday at 7 p.m.
Republican Congressman Mike Simpson and his Democratic challenger, Richard Stallings, will debate Friday. That will be held again at the ISU Bennion Student Union Building at noon.
For a full schedule on when these debates will air, click here.
