Tiberi, Shamansky keep civil tongues in debate

Oct, 25, 2006
Joe Hallett, Dispatch Staff Writer
The Columbus Dispatch

Topics: Federal Campaigns, Federal Government, Voting and Elections

Away from the political stage, Republican Pat Tiberi and Democrat Bob Shamansky are mild-mannered and gracious gentlemen.

In their first and only debate last night on a makeshift stage on the Nationwide Arena concourse, the candidates for the 12 th Congressional District mostly stayed in character, only occasionally lapsing into the attack-dog mode that largely has defined their 30-second television ads. Appearing before about 130 spectators in an hourlong forum televised by the Ohio News Network, the candidates engaged in a spirited discussion of the issues, offering different approaches on foreign and domestic policies and reviving Ohio’s economy.

The debate had been scheduled for the Arena Grand Theater but hurriedly was switched when a television stage light got too hot and set off the sprinkler system, drenching the auditorium.

In a district that President Bush won by only 2 percentage points in 2004, Tiberi, the three-term incumbent, has been rendered vulnerable by an anti-GOP climate and the willingness of Shamansky, a wealthy lawyer and real-estate developer, to spend $1 million of his own money on the race.

Indeed, Shamansky’s wealth was bandied about several times in the debate, with Tiberi arguing, "When you have a U.S. House and a U.S. Senate made up of a bunch of millionaires, that’s not good for America, for our system of government."

Saying that Tiberi consistently has voted for Bush administration policies providing tax benefits for the wealthy, Shamansky said, "I must be the only millionaire the congressman doesn’t like."

Shamansky referred to GOP scandals that have ensnared Republican Gov. Bob Taft and U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Heath, and posed the election as a referendum on the stewardship of Bush and the GOP: "If you’re happy with staying the course, vote for Pat Tiberi. If you want change, vote for Bob Shamansky."

But Tiberi countered that his constituents "know me and know what I’m about," adding, "This is an election, not a referendum. It’s not a referendum on Bob Taft, it’s not a referendum on Bob Ney or anybody else who’s had ethical problems."

Shamansky, who served in Congress one term in 1981-82 before losing the seat to Republican John Kasich, said he is running at age 79 to clean up Congress and refocus the agenda to benefit everyday Americans, "not because I need a job."

Wearing his trademark bow tie, Shamansky told TV viewers: "As you can probably tell by looking at me, I can’t use Congress as a stepping stone for higher office."

Both candidates sought to emphasize their lifelong roots in the 12 th District, but the question of Shamansky’s residency — a target of one of Tiberi’s TV ads — arose and sparked a spirited exchange.

Doug Preisse, chairman of the Franklin County GOP, has asked the county elections board to investigate because Shamansky was registered to vote in German Village until January, when he changed his address to a family property in Bexley. Preisse said Shamansky committed voter fraud because, since 2004, he has claimed a Downtown condominium at Miranova Place as his primary residence for state tax purposes.

"I don’t think it’s too ethical to tell the taxing authority of Ohio that you live in one place, Miranova, and then tell the Franklin County Board of Elections that you live in another place," Tiberi said.

Shamansky responded: "I have paid my taxes everywhere. If Mr. Tiberi wants to compare what he pays in taxes with what I pay in taxes, I’d be glad to do that."

Shamansky said the war in Iraq is "a budding civil war," and he advocated that America’s top military commanders establish an exit strategy so U.S. troops can leave. Tiberi said voting to authorize the invasion of Iraq was "my most difficult vote," but he opposes abandoning Iraq before it is capable of handling its own security.

The candidates disagreed over whether the Bush administration had gone too far in subjugating civil liberties to the war on terrorism. Tiberi defended the monitoring of overseas phone calls, saying, "We have to stop letting the terrorists use our laws against us because they want to destroy our way of life."

Shamansky said Bush sought to establish that he is above the law by circumventing his legal responsibility to get court permission for wiretapping calls.

"He’s got to follow the Constitution," Shamansky said. "We do not strengthen ourselves when we trash the Constitution."

jhallett@dispatch.com

Copyright 2007, The Dispatch Printing Company. Used with permission.
 
 
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