Smith, Lamontagne Trade Pre-Primary Blows

With just two days until the primary, Republican gubernatorial candidates Ovide Lamontagne and Kevin Smith turned up the heat on Sunday in a final debate at Windham High School.

The GOP clash, sponsored by Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire, saw both hopefuls trade blows from beginning to end, mostly calling each other out for flip-flopping on various issues.

Smith also pushed back at Lamontagne for his comment during a debate at St. Anselm College last week when he said that he wanted to be a combination of Gov. John Lynch and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, or "Scott Lynch."

"I took issue with Ovide the other night," Smith said. "I want to be a governor more in the mold of someone like John Sununu and not somebody like Governor Lynch."

During that St. Anselm event, Lamontagne said that he praised Lynch's connection to the public but criticized his lack of leadership.

Smith also jabbed Lamontagne for his plan to go to zero-based budgeting in New Hampshire.

"Zero-based budgeting has been tried in 17 states, and it has failed in every one of those states including New Hampshire," Smith said.

If elected, Smith said that he plans to go to a system of performance-based budgeting.

Lamontagne countered that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ran for office on zero-based budgeting, and that Christie "commended his team" for implementing it.

"He did recognize performance-based budgeting as a management tool," Lamontagne said of Christie.

Lamontagne also fired his own shots, criticizing Smith at various moments for what he called the "evolution" of Smith's campaign.

The first came during a discussion on the tobacco tax, which Smith said he would not support cutting.

"I don't believe we should be trying to balance the budget on the backs of cigarette smokers," Smith said.

But Lamontagne attacked Smith for his vote to raise the cigarette tax during his term as a state representative.

"I think we need people of principle," Lamontagne said. "We need leadership for a change in the governor's office."

Many of the questions asked of the two candidates by event moderators Corey Lewandowski, Director of AFP-NH, and Robert Costa, political reporter for National Review, were geared toward the state's economy.

Much like in a similar debate hosted by the Southern N.H. 9-12 Project in August, the two also aligned on many issues.

Both want a repeal of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade government energy program.

"I would get New Hampshire out (of RGGI) on day one if the legislature were able to get that bill to my desk," Smith said.

"RGGI should be appealed," Lamontagne added. "I will sign that bill and support it as it works with the legislature."

Both also support expanded gaming in the state, but with very different strategies.

Smith said that Lamontagne's plan for a proposal geared toward Rockingham Park could possibly be "unconstitutional."

Lamontagne defended his plan from a business owner's perspective, saying that one would make a "strategic decision about allocation of time and resources."

He also once again rebutted Smith's assertion that he carries a conflict of interest since his law firm represents Rockingham Park, pre-empting the attack by saying a spot in the corner office would mean he is leaving his firm behind.

Smith has said that he would support a two-site plan with both locations going out for a fair bidding process.

Both said that they support dramatic pension reform in the state, with both seeking to establish a defined contribution plan.

Lamontagne said that state employees need to be "at the table" during retirement reform discussions.

"They need to understand – when they own their retirement, that's security," Lamontagne said.

"Pension reform is one of the ticking time bombs we have to fix," Smith added. "(New Hampshire has) the third worst unfunded pension liability in the country right now."

The event began with a brief prayer from local minister Shawn Foster, who fired at Democrats for what he called their party's lack of commitment to religion.

It was one of only a few blows to Democrats during the hour-long event, with the two candidates keeping the majority of the focus on breaking down each other's positions as the Sept. 11 voting nears.

According to Lewandowski, the two committed to the debate as early as January.

Also in attendance were several local politicians, Windham officials and House Speaker William O'Brien.