ELECTIONS / 23RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT : Issues--Not Attacks--Fuel Debate : Politics: Incumbent Elton Gallegly and challenger Anita Perez Ferguson discuss taxes, abortion and illegal immigration.

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) and his Democratic challenger, Anita Perez Ferguson of Oxnard, engaged in a debate Sunday that was largely free of the stepped-up attacks that have punctuated their campaigns in recent days.

Gallegly even noted that “the tone of this debate has been a little bit different than the tone of the campaign so far.”

About 1,000 people, many armed with placards supporting their favored candidate, witnessed the debate in the Ventura High School auditorium.

Although the two competitors for the congressional seat representing most of Ventura County spent much of the debate discussing issues, they did take some shots at each other.

“I want to set the record straight for Congressman Gallegly and others,” Perez Ferguson said to Gallegly. “My full name is Anita Maria Perez de Gonzales Ferguson. You may address me as Mrs. Perez Ferguson.”

The audience erupted in applause.

This was a reference to criticism that Perez Ferguson has drawn from the Gallegly campaign and from some in Ventura County’s Latino community for dropping “Perez” from her recent radio commercials, except for the last line of the political messages.

Her campaign staff has said that the maneuver had nothing to do with her roots. Instead, they said, she was attempting to save time in the commercials and to foster quicker name recognition.

Gallegly, in defending himself from a charge that he has been lax in pushing for campaign funding reform, said, “I support the elimination of all political action committees.” PACs can contribute up to $5,000 to a single candidate.

Gallegly underscored that his most recent campaign filing, released Oct. 15, showed that only 25% of his campaign funds have been generated by PACs this year. He said most of his funds “come from the people of Ventura County,” while charging that a majority of Perez Ferguson’s money comes from outside the district. About 49% of Perez Ferguson’s campaign funding has come from PACs.

As the Democrats’ national ticket has done, Perez Ferguson said it is time for transition in Washington. “Our nation is in a time of change,” she said.

Gallegly emphasized that, like Perez Ferguson, he was brought up in East Los Angeles by “hard-working folks . . . that always paid their bills.”

A majority of the audience clearly supported Perez Ferguson and frequently interrupted the three-term incumbent with catcalls and boos.

“Please let the candidates speak,” admonished moderator John Irby, editor of the Ventura Star-Free Press, which sponsored the debate. “We know you all have a favorite candidate.”

Afterward, the 48-year-old Gallegly said the audience did not bother him.

“Campaigns are very spirited and I think it’s only right that she has her cheering section. . . . That’s campaigns.”

After the 75-minute debate concluded, many in the audience chanted, “Anita! Anita!”

“It certainly was enthusiastic,” said Perez Ferguson, 43, an educational consultant.

The event represented the first time that Gallegly has debated an opponent since he faced Tony Hope in the 1986 Republican primary during his first race for a House.

Gallegly and Perez Ferguson are vying for the 23rd Congressional District seat representing Carpinteria and all of Ventura County except most of Thousand Oaks.

Under the debate format, three panelists asked questions. They were Timm Herdt, the Star-Free Press’s opinion page editor; Dan Green, KADY-TV vice president for news, and KVEN radio talk-show host Frank Haines.

The debate underscored philosophical differences between the conservative Gallegly and Perez Ferguson, who describes herself as a moderate Democrat.

Perez Ferguson emphasized proposals calling for a better education system, quality child care and job-training programs.

For his part, Gallegly underscored his anti-crime position and support of a strong national defense despite the dismantling of the Soviet Union.

Both candidates have placed job creation, particularly in Ventura County, among their top priorities.

On taxation, Gallegly said, “the American public is not under-taxed, the federal government is overspending.”

Picking up a proposal of Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, Perez Ferguson advocated increasing taxes 1% to 3% on individuals making $200,000 a year or more and a 10% hike for citizens with an annual income of at least $1 million.

On the emotional issue of abortion, Perez Ferguson, who supports abortion rights, was applauded when she declared, “It’s time to take the politics out of a woman’s right to choose.”

Gallegly opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or when a woman’s life is in danger.

Few issues have been as volatile in the campaign as illegal immigration. About one-third of the district’s residents are of Latin descent.

Gallegly has sponsored controversial legislation to control the flow of illegal immigration into the United States, including a constitutional amendment to disallow children of illegal immigrants to automatically become American citizens. Some Latinos have branded the measure as blatantly racist.

“The issue is one of legal versus illegal,” Gallegly said, adding that a flood of illegals is draining American resources. “I make no apologies for putting Americans first.”

Perez Ferguson said that she, too, is opposed to illegal immigration. But in contrast to Gallegly’s approach, she called for reform of the country’s labor laws so that “we will not and cannot hire people below the minimum wage.”

In his closing remarks, Gallegly, with a touch of self-deprecating humor, took issue with a recent campaign flyer his opponent’s campaign has mailed to voters, which is sharply critical of the Gallegly’s record. The flyer displays two dour pictures of the congressman.

“She could have found a more flattering picture,” Gallegly said, holding up the flyer.

“Well,” he reflected for a moment, “maybe not. There’s not so much to work with.”