Three Democrats in primary express contrasting views

Esrati, Fogle, Roberts are vying for the chance to unseat Rep. Turner.

Joe Roberts, Guy Fogle and David Esrati (from left) respond to questions during candidate forum by the League of Women Voters at the Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters on Wednesday, June 30. The three are on the ballot in a special Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District on July 13. Staff photo by Teesha McClam

Teesha McClam Joe Roberts, Guy Fogle and David Esrati (from left) respond to questions during candidate forum by the League of Women Voters at the Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters on Wednesday, June 30. The three are on the ballot in a special Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District on July 13. Staff photo by Teesha McClam

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By Lynn Hulsey, Staff writer Updated 9:51 AM Thursday, July 1, 2010

DAYTON — The three Democrats vying for a chance to unseat U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, all pledged to support the winner of the July 13 special primary, even if they are not the one chosen.

The candidates in the Third District Congressional primary spoke Wednesday, June 30, at the Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area.

David Esrati, 47, of Dayton; Guy Fogle, 48, of Miamisburg; and Joe Roberts, 25, of Kettering all portrayed themselves as Democrats out to bring much-needed change to Washington. They said Turner is out of touch with his district and too beholden to contributors tied to corporate interests.

All three said corporations have no business being involved in elections and called for campaign finance reforms.

While the three found common ground on that issue, they differed on others. Esrati said government should give no tax incentives to businesses and should not be in the business of economic development.

Fogle called for reducing the business tax rate, giving tax breaks for research and development and a one-year moratorium on the payroll tax for small and mid-sized businesses. Those contributions to Social Security and Medicare would be replaced with stimulus money.

“We need shock therapy,” Fogle said. “We need to put the paddles to the chest of the Miami Valley and shock the dickens out of it.”

Roberts said stimulus money should be used to retool plants to build fuel cells, wind turbines and solar panels.

“The job of government is to bring jobs,” Roberts said.

The three also differed on the war in Afghanistan.

Fogle supports reducing troops involved in the counterinsurgency, while continuing to fund counter-terrorism efforts, arguing that the main goal is to fight the Taliban, not try to create a democracy.

Roberts said building schools and infrastructure would keep Afghans from turning to the Taliban and other militants.

Esrati opposes such spending.

“It’s time to stop building schools, hospitals and roads in Afghanistan,” Esrati said. “People are used to living in caves in Afghanistan and building them schools is not going to change things.”

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