Whitman, Brown Face Off at Dominican

San Rafael was in the spotlight at Tuesday night's debate at Dominican University of California, where Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown squared off at Angelico Hall for an hour in their last scheduled gubernatorial debate.

Inside the hall were familiar faces from city government and school boards to prominent San Rafael residents. One in five audience members were Dominican students who were given tickets for their volunteer work or through a lottery.

Dominican President Joseph Fink began the session with an introduction of dignitaries including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.

Fink used the event as an opportunity to educate the audience about the independent university and its students and programs. He then introduced NBC News' Tom Brokaw, the moderator, who arrived on stage on crutches. 

Explaining that he had had an mishp at his Montana home, Brokaw used it as an opportunity for a metaphor, likening his condition to the state of California. 

"We are both broken at the moment," Brokaw said, adding he hopes the gubernatorial debate will be good for the state.

The Nov. 2 election is a critical one for the state and its impacts are likely to be felt across the nation.

"I hope this campaign will bring everyone back on deck," Brokaw said. "On the oars, pulling forward to a common destination."

After introducing the candidates, Brokaw asked each to explain what they would do for California. 

Whitman talked about her arrival in the state 30 years ago, because she thought everything was possible here.

"We lived the California dream," Whitman, adding that she sees the California dream as broken and not everyone has the same chances now. She said everyone in the state has to sacrifice to get California back on track. 

Brown promised to make tough decisions to get the state to live within its means without scapegoating others, based on ethnicity, sexual orientation or other differences. He insisted California is not a failed state. 

"I think I can fix it," Brown said, adding that cuts should not affect necessary services.

Whitman repeated a theme of cutting government spending, reducing taxes and creating jobs. She called for welfare reform and efficiency. 

Brown said the state has limits and has to recognize them. He promised to start working on the budget two weeks after the election and including more Californians in the decision-making process. 

As Brokaw steered the conversation to the many contentious issues nagging at the state, the audience became more animated, sometimes with scattered clapping and others with enthusiastic applause. The more caustic remarks between the contenders drew boos or laughs, indicating that both sides were represented throughout the hall. 

Whitman insisted that tax cuts and less regulation would keep business in the state and create jobs, calling herself an investor and job creator. 

Brown defended his record as governor, saying he has passed eight state budgets and doesn't have to learn on the job.

Heated exchange erupted over the capital gains tax. Brown wants to keep it in place, Whitman opposes it. They accused each other of half truths and haggled over numbers. 

Pension reform, immigration and gay marriage also proved the gulfs between the two.

Brokaw brought up a sensitive issue on each side, asking Whitman about hirng a illegal immigrant as a nanny while maintaining that business has to be responsible for assuring its workers are in this country legitimately. 

And when asked about her poor voting record, Whitman apologized.

When asked about a tape-recorded conversation during which a Brown staffer called Whitman a "whore," Brown apologized, saying the campaign already had issued a prompt statement.

The debate was a first for Dominican biology major Tasha Kahn, who attended as part of the university's Smart Vote Team.

When it ended, she called the evening "entertaining."

"They answered about half the questions they were given," Kahn said. 

Outside the hall, the event took on a cocktail party like effect, with well-dressed audience members holding plastic cups — of water -- courtesy of Dominican and debate sponsors on an unusually warm evening.

Student Frank Menchavez said both candidates seemed to do a good job with their presentations. 

"It's tough because you see two different sides but it's a politician vs. a businessswoman."

His friend, Victor Pham, said it seemed like the candidates started out talking about what they wanted to do for the state.

"But then it got personal," Pham said. "Plus there was too much clapping."

San Geronimo resident Andrew Marshall said he thought the debate was OK.

"I thought that Whitman was more evasive than Brown especially on gay marriage and immigration," Marshall said. "She talks about a record she doesn't have."