Candidates face off in the 21st Congressional district

Posted at: 09/25/2012 11:25 PM | Updated at: 09/26/2012 12:18 AM
By: Dan Bazile

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QUEENSBURY -- The nearly one hour exchange was mostly amicable between Congressman Bill Owens and his opponent Matt Doheny. The most passionate reaction came from the audience in the auditorium at Queensbury High School with a question about the Affordable Healthcare Act.

"What we need to do is fix it as we go forward, which has been my position since day one," Owens said.

"People continue to learn more about some of the parts of the Obamacare legislation, they're going to start shaking their heads and get very nervous," Doheny said.

It's been one of the biggest issues in the race. Doheny wants to repeal the measure much like his fellow Republicans. And Owens, much like the Democrats, said there's room for improvement.

This is a rematch for the two major party candidates. Doheny is hoping for a different outcome than when he lost two years ago to Owens in what was then the 23rd Congressional District. The new 21st district includes Warren, Washington, Fulton and most of Saratoga Counties.

Green Party candidate Don Hassig, also joined the Chamber of Commerce discussion that mainly focused on the economy.

"The two issues that come up all the time are the ones I talked about. That's jobs and why can't you guys get along," Owens told Newschannel 13. "What I bring to Washington is experience on the ground of helping to create jobs."

"Getting people back to work is job number one. Look, I'm a businessman. I understand how challenging it is to create a single job," Doheny said.

While Owens and Doheny differ on how to fix the economy and create those jobs, there were no cheap shots. The attacks came from Hassig who said he'd solve the unemployment problem with a much different approach.

"30 million new jobs, full employment in America just by having Americans manufacture what they consume and not selling out to the millionaires billionaires," Hassig said.

The last poll from Siena Research Institute gave Owens a double digit lead over Doheny. But Doheny's campaign said the race is much closer than that. The candidates will meet again in October in Plattsburgh and in Watertown before voters go to the polls in November.