http://www.elpasotimes.com/election/ci_4455181

Four-way forum goes rapid-fire
Candidates speak about immigration concerns
By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau
Article Launched:10/07/2006 12:00:00 AM MDT
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, second from right, addressed a debate panel as gubernatorial candidates Chris Bell, from left, Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn, right, listened during Friday's televised debate in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / AP)DALLAS -- Independent candidate Kinky Friedman on Friday said he would declare martial law on the border to allow National Guard troops to enforce immigration laws.

"Of course, whatever it takes," Friedman said during the one and only gubernatorial debate planned before the Nov. 7 election. "I want 10,000 National Guardsmen down there now."

GOP Gov. Rick Perry, Demo crat Chris Bell and independent candidates Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn participated in the debate in which questions about immigration and border security led off a litany of inquiries about issues including transportation, education and ethics.

Perry emphasized border security initiatives already under way and said he would ask legislators for $100 million more for border security next year.

Bell said he would encourage the federal government to enforce current immigration laws and crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers.

"I think the debate needs to be logical and sensible," Bell said.

Strayhorn said she would put the Texas Rangers in charge of state security.
"We're going to have a fair, legal immigration program, but first, though, I'm going to take stopping illegal immigration out of the political arena and put it in the law enforcement arena," she said.

Friedman has called for 10,000 troops on the border and said he wants them armed to stop illegal immigration. Asked whether he would declare martial law in border cities to give troops law enforcement authority, he said yes.

Asked later whether it would be safe to allow National Guard troops who are not trained in immigration laws to enforce them, Friedman repeated, "I'll do whatever it takes to protect that border."

All the candidates but Friedman declared themselves victors in the rapid-paced debate. Friedman appeared nervous and was visibly irritated by questions about his recent racially charged remarks.

"I've never done a debate like this before, and I was a human being, a little bit nervous about doing it," he said.

Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent candidate Strayhorn had her own moment of trouble during the debate. She could not name the president-elect of Mexico.

Felipe Calderon is Mexico's president-elect.

"I just blanked on that," she said after the debate.

Perry sent reporters who attended the debate into a fury when he refused to take questions afterward. The other three candidates took questions from reporters who were not on the debate panel after the event.

Perry sent a spokesman and a Houston state senator, who quickly left after telling clearly angry reporters the governor had said all he had to say during the hourlong debate.

Some El Pasoans who saw the debate had differing responses to the candidates' performances.

Mark Smith, a lobbyist for Hunt Building, said he thought Perry performed best in the debate.

"Perry's leading, he's got the vision, he's got the experience and he knows exactly where he wants to go with the state of Texas," Smith said.

Emily Loomis, who works for Kemp Smith in El Paso, said she thought Friedman's suggestion of declaring martial law on the border was "ludicrous."

Vanessa Johnson, editor of the online journal Newspaper Tree, was incredulous that Strayhorn could not name the Mexican president-elect.

"That's ridiculous," she said.

El Paso County Democratic Party Chairman Danny Anchondo said he was impressed with Bell's responses.

"I think Chris Bell definitely came off a lot smoother and a lot cooler," Anchondo said.

Early voting in the Nov. 7 election will begin Oct. 23.