House 25 debate set for tonight at Kate Collins

Incumbent House District 25 Del. Steve Landes and Democratic challenger Greg Marrow will face the public tonight during a 60-minute debate at the Kate Collins Middle School auditorium.

The 6 p.m. debate, the first of the fall campaign between the two, is co-sponsored by The News Virginian and NBC29.

Lee Wolverton, editor and general manager of The News Virginian, will serve as moderator. NBC29 will air the debate in a live Webcast.

The topics will include the economy and jobs, energy, education, transportation, taxes and health care.

A question will be sought from the audience after the moderator poses questions. The two candidates also will offer one question each as the final questions of the debate.

In addition to which candidate can do the most to improve the area economy, the House 25 race has included a remark Landes made at an area GOP picnic last month in which he compared White House tactics to those of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

Marrow publicly called on Landes to apologize, but the incumbent refused saying “I’m not going to apologize for speaking my mind.”

Marrow, a Harrisonburg optometrist, said he is glad for tonight’s debate for those who attend and those who will get a chance to read about it and watch the Webcast.

“This is an excellent opportunity for those folks who haven’t gotten a chance to look at Del. Landes’ record. It’s a chance for us to talk about the issues,’’ he said.

Landes said Marrow does not have a legislative record, but said tonight “should be a good opportunity to learn about both of us.”

Landes said he will move quickly tonight to make certain Marrow does “not distort or confuse people about my record.”

Marrow said tonight’s debate will reveal “two sides of what confronts the district.”

He also said it would be helpful if voters looked past the partisan politics and examine which candidate offers the best hope for moving House District 25 forward.

“Separate the political names and look at what we both have to offer and which one suits us best,’’ Marrow said.

Landes said that while the General Assembly offers the change to work in a bipartisan way, the two major political parties do stand for certain things. And he said voters should know the party affiliations of candidates.

“Who you associate with is important at the state, local and national level,’’ Landes said.

Landes, a seven-term incumbent, has not faced major party opposition since he was first elected to office in 1995.

House District 25 covers all of the city of Waynesboro and parts of Augusta, Rockingham and Albemarle counties.