JC Dill/Daily Journal Congressional candidates Jackie Speier, left, and Mike Maloney debated with other candidates for the seat of the late U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, last night at the South San Francisco civic center. The debate was hosted by the League of Women Voters.

The five people vying for the 12th Congressional District weighed in on heavy issues such as education, the national debt and the war in Iraq last night during their first and only debate before the April 8 special election.

Candidates Greg Conlon, Barry Hermanson, Michelle McMurry, Mike Moloney and Jackie Speier are running for the vacant seat held by the late Tom Lantos, who died Feb. 11 due to complications from esophageal cancer. The 12th Congressional District represents San Mateo County and a slice of San Francisco County.

The key issues for the debate were the war in Iraq, health care, foreign relations and the national debt. All candidates agreed the United States should withdraw from Iraq, but only Republican candidate Greg Conlon argued in favor of a carefully planned exit.

“We run the risk of jeopardizing our oil supply. We have to be careful leaving Iraq and do it in a measured way,” Conlon said.

Conlon and Moloney are the two Republicans vying for a spot in the heavily democratic district. Conlon is the former president of the California Public Utilities Commission and CPA. Moloney is a perennial candidate for the seat and delivered a solid stance about ending the war in Iraq while keeping the audience laughing with his candid take on serious subjects.

Green Party candidate Hermanson’s main goal, if elected, is to reduce the national military budget.

Democratic candidates Speier and McMurry had broad opinions on education, government oversight and foreign policy.

Speier wants to crackdown on earmarks that often allocate millions of extra dollars to special interests in government contracts. She also wants to eliminate frivolous spending and pointed to her analysis of the state prison system spending as an example of a way she saved taxpayers money.

McMurry wants to increase science and math education to stimulate the technology economy, improve health care and end the Iraq war by building consensus with Middle East countries.

Candidates weighed in on the national No Child Left Behind Act, with most candidates claiming the program is either flawed or completely broken. Conlon wants to amend the program while Speier and McMurry wanted to see the program dissolved.

“Teachers have learned to teach to the tests,” Speier said. “We should keep our noses out of K-12 education.”

Speier pointed out that the federal Office of Education was only formed in 1976, adding to Moloney’s statement that education should be the responsibility of states.

“It’s not my problem, it’s a state problem,” Moloney said, “Where do we get the idea that Uncle Sam should handle everything?”

Conlon preferred to see the program amended, not eliminated.

With five candidates vying for the position, the deciding factor may come down to experience. Conlon and Speier have state experience. Speier considers herself “a proven commodity” and prides herself on the 300 laws she created while serving in Sacramento.

Meanwhile, McMurry prided herself on her lack of political experience.

“Old school politics have failed us and it’s time to try something new,” she said.

The special election for the vacant seat will be held April 8.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.