Caroleene Dobson and Shomari Figures debated how to reduce crime and took shots at each other's net worths during a debate on Thursday.
The debate was hosted by AL(dot)com with a few weeks left before voters go to the polls on Nov. 5. Dobson, a Republican, and Figures, a Democrat, are running to represent the new Congressional District 2.
Dobson said the Biden-Harris administration was failing Congressional District 2 residents.
"They've made our communities less safe and they've made our economy less prosperous. All due to Washington insiders like my opponent. He spent his entire adult career in Washington D.C. He started leasing an apartment in the district two days before the filing deadline but he kept his $1.5 million house in Washington D.C. What's more he was part of the administration that has hurt Alabama families. He wants to continue the policies of the last four years," Dobson said in the debate.
Figures said he could better relate to people in the district.
"It starts with having people who can relate to the issues, people who understand who have grown up in communities in and around people who are struggling because people are struggling. My opponent can't relate to that. My opponent is a billionaire and that just generally keeps people from understanding the struggles of everyday people," Figures said.
According to an AL(dot)com fact check, Dobson's net worth is between $580,000 and $1.85 million, while Figures' net worth is between $2 million and $6.8 million.
A young voter from the district asked candidates during the debate about their solutions to address crime problems.
"You can't trust my opponent to be hard on crime. He likes to talk about the role that he played in Obama's clemency initiative, which the inspector general for the Department of Justice said was "poorly planned and poorly executed," resulting in the release of 1,500 criminals back onto our streets," Dobson said.
Dobson continued, "What we certainly don't need is someone who is soft on crime who released someone like Brosarick Trammell, a drug dealer who then was re-arrested last year in Alabama for trafficking fentanyl, fentanyl that is killing our young people in droves."
Figures said Republicans weren't serious about reducing gun violence.
"I hear a lot of concerns and a lot of problem identification but no solutions. Here's the truth about it. The truth about it is Republicans aren't serious about addressing gun violence. They're serious about just screaming about the issue. If they were serious about addressing gun violence, then our Republican-led state legislature, State House, State Senate, our Republican Governor, our Republican Lt. Governor would never, would never have backed a plan here in the state of Alabama that was fully opposed by every law enforcement organization in this state to remove the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed weapon in this state. If they were serious about it, they would all be backing plans right now to outlaw glock switches here in the state of Alabama which they're in opposition to," Figures said.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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