COLUMBUS, Ohio — A forum was held Tuesday night between candidates running for the District 3 Congressional seat at the Gateway Event Center in Columbus.
- Republican candidates said it’s time for new leadership
- Democratic candidate Joyce Beatty emphasized her proven track record, but took jabs at Harper’s lack of experience and “campaign rhetoric”
- Whoever wins the primary races for their party on March 17 will face off in November
The event, hosted by the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce, got off to a mild start.
Republican candidates Mark Richardson and Cleophus Dulaney —both businessmen —stuck to the answering the questions. Some of those questions centered around education, criminal justice reform and equal pay for women.
Richardson says he got in the race because veterans are now being encouraged to stand up and make a change in Congress.
Dulaney says no response from Representative Beatty on an issue pertaining to his business prompted him.
Both candidates say it is time for new leadership. They say they have the experience and can win.
"There's a reason our forefathers made the Congressional term two years. They made that for a reason. They need turnover in Congress. Our career politicians have failed the constituents," Richardson said.
"So, basically what I do is I look at life experience. What I do is I learn quickly as to what I need to do. Anything I do, I do 100 percent. I don't fail at what I do," said Dulaney.
While things were smooth sailing in the first half of the forum, they didn't stay that way when Democratic candidates Morgan Harper and Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) took to the stage.
As they answered some of the same questions in addition to how they would work across the aisle, each took shots at one another — much of which centered around experience and track records —causing the moderator at certain points to tell candidates to stick to the answering the questions.
In the end, Beatty made it clear that her opponent isn't the one to take on the position.
"My opponent made a lot of statements that just were wrong. They weren't true. But we have someone who hasn't voted ever in 10 years, new to the process, not understanding the process...words make it easy. But real folks in this district know how hard it is and they know that I have a reputation for standing up for them," Beatty said.
Beatty says she'll continue to focus on healthcare, affordable housing and economic gain, while Harper indicated it was time for some new real leadership.
"Very simply, what has the experience gotten us? We have an increasing number of people that are living in our community who are not able to get ahead. Even people that are fairly middle class with jobs that are stable are still finding it difficult to keep up with basic expenses like childcare, healthcare, so experience...okay...but, where are we? I think we need the new type of experience, lived experience," said Harper.
That, plus focusing on systemic issues involving racism and stable housing is what she'll continue to focus on.
Although it may be a tough road ahead, Harper is confident she'll win the seat with the help and momentum of young voters she's connecting with through her grassroots movement.
The primary is March 17. Whoever wins the primary races for their party will face off in November.