WARDSBORO- Former state representative Phil Bartlett, of Dover, and incumbent state representative John Moran, of Wardsboro, squared off in the first of three candidate forums at the Wardsboro Town Hall Wednesday. Bartlett and Moran are seeking to represent Windham-Bennington District 1 and the two candidates traded viewpoints on issues concerning health care, education spending, and voting records. Both candidates defined where they stood on the issues and fielded several questions from the audience.

The candidates were first asked about health care and how each candidate would see to it there would be more coverage available in the state. Bartlett was the first to respond and was honest in his answer. He said he did not have a plan etched in stone or in black and white terms. The important thing, Bartlett stressed, was that the state have a discussion first on how to make it more affordable. He questioned the current state of Catamount Health Care and believes the current economic environment in the state is hampering efforts for health care reform. “My daughter has a day care. Her insurance costs $1,200 a month and she wants Catamount. She was told you’re not eligible unless you’re out of business. So do we need to drive businesses out of state to go on Catamount?” asked Bartlett. “We need to see what we need to reform it.”

Moran acknowledged that Catamount is only a stopgap to the problem but that efforts must continue to support universal health care. “This is one of the things that prompted me to get into politics,” said Moran. “Vermont can and should be a self-insured state.”

Education spending was an issue on the minds of many voters. Several questions were geared toward containing costs and what the candidates would do to stop spending. Moran said he worked to protect Windham Bennington 1 from the effects of Act 68, a bill passed by the Legislature to help Vermont towns with education spending. Moran said this was an issue he fought hard for. “I proposed legislation to do away with fair market value in the common level of appraisal, including legislation to do away with fair market value,” said Moran. “I also voted with the Republicans to repeal Act 68 and will see to it that costs be contained.”

Bartlett agreed with Moran on education spending, however he defended his votes on why he supported Act 68 as a state representative in 2005-2006. He said the circumstances were much different then and it served the district’s needs well. He said the political and economic environment has changed since the vote and he is not in support of increased school spending. However, Bartlett questioned Moran on specific votes relating to education spending, saying that legislators informed him that Moran stood outside during an important vote, which was against the House rules. He wondered whether Moran really votes the way that he says. “When the vote came up he took a walk,” said Bartlett. “He stood outside the chamber and he was absent for that vote. I’ll give you the names of people who can confirm it.”

Moran said he was out on official business per the order of the Legislature and maintained he has always represented the interests of the district on the issue. “I’ve not supported the Democrats’ position when it goes against this district,” said Moran.

One voter asked at the end of the evening about gay marriage. He said it’s becoming an issue around the country now that Massachusetts and other states have legalized it and asked the candidates if they would support it if brought to the Legislature. Moran gave an emphatic “yes.” Bartlett was more nuanced. “I’ve been contacted on this issue before. Wherever the voters in this district want to stand on this issue, I’ll represent it,” said Bartlett.