Reproductive rights took the spotlight at the first debate between incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott and his Progressive/Democratic challenger Cassandra Gekas.
The debate held today was hosted by Mark Johnson and recorded live from the Tunbridge World’s Fair. It was preceded by a debate between incumbent Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger Jack McCullen. Scott and Gekas answered questions posed by Johnson and addressed caller queries; the format did not allow for the candidates to ask questions of one other.
Johnson first brought up abortion when he asked Gekas to comment on a fundraising email from her campaign that erroneously accused Phil Scott of failing to support a women’s right to choose. Gekas owned up to the issue, admitting, “The language we used in that was just too strong.”
But she maintained that she has concerns about Scott’s position on reproductive rights and, in particular, his stances on “partial-birth” abortion, fetal homicide, and parental notification prior to an abortion.
Scott defended his support for parental notification (he co-sponsored a bill mandating that the parents of minors having an abortion be notified beforehand) saying, “We’re not talking about a women’s right to choose. We are talking about minors.”
To which Gekas responded: “I don’t believe it’s the state’s job to legislate the relationship between a parent and a child.”
A couple of callers raised the subject again, and the conversation culminated when Johnson answered asked both candidates whether or not they considered a fetus a person.
Gekas responded, “I do not consider — before a fetus is viable outside the womb — I do not consider it a person.”
Scott said: “In the third trimester, I would consider the fetus a child.”
Other clear departures of opinion occurred on the subject of a potential moratorium on industrial wind (Scott supports a moratorium; Gekas is opposed), the consolidation of school districts (Scott supports consolidation; Gekas would pursue other avenues first), and Vermont Yankee (Scott stands by his vote last year to extend its contract; Gekas wants it closed).
Correction: This story originally quoted Gekas as saying she said the language her campaign used in a fundraising letter was “wrong.” What she actually said was it was “too strong.” We also clarified that Gekas said she doesn’t consider a fetus that is not viable outside the womb a person.
