ATLANTA (AP) – A forum with Republican Gov. Nathan Deal and Democratic challenger Jason Carter turned contentious Monday over public education as each attacked the other’s record and questioned his opponent’s plans to improve it.
It was the first time both candidates have shared a stage ahead of the Nov. 4 election as they battled over one of the major issues in this year’s governor’s race before an audience of educators.
Deal argued he has shielded public education from cuts that other parts of state government had to deal with after the past recession, saying he increased education spending every year he’s been in office. Meanwhile Carter, a state senator, described what he called “the worst contraction of public education in our state” in years.
“Every educator that I know and most of the parents I know would be shocked to hear that they have been spared cuts,” Carter said. “To make excuses about what we’ve tried and what we’ve done and to say we have increased the amount every year just doesn’t deal with … what teachers and parents are seeing in their schools.”
The race has largely shaped up to be a debate on the economy and education, with Deal arguing that Georgia is moving in the right direction on job creation and education spending after a few tough years. He said Carter hasn’t explained how he would pay for an increase in public education funds.