The four 77th Assembly District candidates gathered at the Education Building Wednesday night to debate everything from university funding, to the deficit, to immigrants' rights.
The event, jointly sponsored by the Associated Students of Madison, Public Representation Organization of the Faculty Senate and The Daily Cardinal, hosted Dane County Supervisor and Democratic candidate Brett Hulsey, Green Party candidate Ben Manski, Republican candidate David Redick and Constitution Party candidate David Olson.
UW-Madison students make up a significant portion of the 77th District, making university funding a hot topic at the debate.
Hulsey said he would fight to protect funding for the university. Manski said he would not only call for greater funding, but fight to keep corporate interests out of the legislative discussion on the matter.
Both Redick and Olson took the opposite position. Olson advocated for separating the university from the state entirely, as the Wisconsin Constitution only provides for K-12 education.
""They all wanna grow, they all want the hot professors,"" Redick said. ""I want them to teach a few more hours and not make so much money compared to what we can afford.""
As the two liberal candidates in a traditionally left-leaning district, Hulsey and Manski are the frontrunners. Both Manski and Hulsey said they are dedicated to environmental issues and the research being done at UW-Madison, but they have their distinctions when it comes to immigration and UW tuition.
Hulsey said he would support driver's cards for illegal immigrants and the DREAM Act, a piece of legislation that would provide illegal minors with a path to citizenship either through military service or pursuit of higher education.
Manski said not only would he support the DREAM Act, but he would pursue equal rights for all Wisconsin residents under state law.
When asked what separates himself from his Green Party competitor, Hulsey cited his 12 years on the County Board and his experience with creating jobs.
Manski said he, unlike Hulsey, will dedicate himself to reducing tuition as he did during his time as a UW-Madison student. ""I understand student issues intimately,"" he said.
