During a televised debate between the two major Democratic candidates for governor, businessman Farouk Shami vowed to eliminate electric bills within 10 years if he's elected governor.
"My aim for the state of Texas is within 10 years, you will not have electric bills," said Shami.
"We can use our wind and our sun power that God blessed us with. We've got plenty of that," he added.
But his opponent in the Democratic primary, former Houston Mayor Bill White, said we can't depend solely on sun and wind energy.
"I do think there's a future for some green energy, but you wouldn't want to be on a hot day in the summer, depending only on solar and wind energy," said White.
On the issue of capital punishment, Shami said he would favor a moratoriuim until we can be "110 percent sure" that innocent people are not being put to death.
"We cannot be bragging about how many people we are executing and executing innocently. I am against that with all my heart," Shami said.
White said he would not support a moratorium on the death penalty in Texas.
"That would disrespect the juries and the victims and the criminal justice system where there is no question about the evidence used to convict," said White.
On the issue of immigration, White said there should be a better method of identifying people who cross from Mexico into the United states on a daily basis to work and shop.
"Part of it will require some system of identification for frequent visitors...biometrics...where they go in a different line so that we can target our law enforcement against those people who are trafficking human beings and drugs and gang members," said White.
Shami drew chuckles from the audience when he said," Without Mexicans, you know, it would be like a day without sunshine in our state."
"So I am for people and employment and finding a positive way to give them legal status," Shami added.
Shami said he supports an increase in the gasoline tax to pay for roads, but White disagrees.
And on the issue of abortion, White said, "I think we should leave the current laws the same."
Shami said he supports a woman's right to choose "to a limited time, perhaps 60 to 90 days only."
The debate Monday night aired live from the KTVT-TV studio in Fort Worth.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
