The final debate in the race for governor last night at Rhode Island College.
Democrat Helena Foulkes, independent Ken Block and Republican Aaron Guckian met exactly two weeks before the general election.
The WPRI debate featured wide divides among the candidates.
Foulkes said that she knows that people are starting to give up on the notion that government is working for them - and she said she would not let that happen.
Gukian, the Republican was critical of both the Democrat Foulkes and the Independent Block. When talking about the state's budget issues- Guckian said "She (Foulkes) would tax everyone. He (Block) would fire everyone. While Guckian said he would save taxpayers money.
There was some agreement of whether the Governor should have the power of a line item veto- which most governors have. All agreed that it would be good, but Guckian said it would not happen with the current legislature.
A proposal to move the state's minimum wage from 17 to 20 dollars an hour was also a bone of contention.
Foulkes said she would sign it. Block said- although he has not read the entire proposal- he would likely agree. But Guckian said that he would veto the measure if it ever got to his desk because it would place an enormous and sudden strain on small business owners throughout the state.
When it comes to housing- all agreed there was a need for more affordable housing in the state.
Block said the state under his administration would build the units necessary- so long as the money and the land was there.
Foulkes said if the average family is making 100 thousand dollars a year, it would be reasonable to have homes built at between 200 and 300 thousand dollars as a target. She said she would use the Millionaires Tax to build some 20 thousand new units.
Guickian said that it was necessary for the state "to go slow before it could go fast" on the housing issue. He did not have provide a number of housing units that he would would seek to build.
The debate on WPRI was the last debate for the candidates prior to the November 3 election.
(Photos provided by Foulkes, Guckian and Block Campaigns)