Morales and Sanchez to debate in Spanish
By Kelley Shannon
Associated Press

AUSTIN — On the eve of a historic Spanish-language debate, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Morales claimed Thursday that rival Tony Sanchez is dividing voters by race, ethnicity and language.

Morales, who wanted more than the one debate in English that he’s getting, said that in the televised Spanish debate Friday he will answer questions in Spanish and thetranslate his answers into English.

He urged all Texans, regardless of their language, to tune in.

“The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the citizens of our state speak English,” Morales said. “That also applies to a significant number of Hispanic Texans.”

Sanchez responded by saying he is proud to be bilingual and bicultural and that diversity makes Texas great. He accused Morales of trying to change the debate rules.

“We have an opportunity to make history tomorrow night, and for Mr. Morales to go back on his promise is an affront to Texans of every background,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said he still intends to take part in the debates.

KERA television, one of the co-sponsors of the debate, issued a statement Thursday saying that while the debate rules don’t stipulate a candidate cannot answer in both languages, the sponsors intended for the debate to be entirely in Spanish. Agreed-upon time limits will be strictly enforced, said Rick Thompson, executive producer.

After weeks of bickering, the two Mexican-American candidates agreed to a one-hour English debate in Dallas on Friday and a one-hour Spanish debate later in the evening.

It is the first time candidates for governor of any state will a debate in Spanish, according to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Morales favored one Spanish debate and several in English. He said a Spanish debate is important, but that there should be more in English.

“Mr. Sanchez’s insistence that we basically elevate Spanish to an equal status with the English language in this race for governor of Texas is ill-advised,” said Morales.

Sanchez, by also supporting “race-based” college admissions criteria, is running a “race based campaign,” Morales said.

“I fear that the effect of his campaign has been and will continue to be to divide Texans by race, by ethnicity and now by language,” Morales said. He called Sanchez’s approach “shameful pandering.”

Sanchez, a wealthy Laredo businessman and University of Texas System regent, has assailed Morales for his 1997 opinion as attorney general to expand a federal court order banning the University of Texas law school from using racial preferences in admissions.

credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002