The race for the new 10th congressional district seat gained momentum Sunday when two candidates participated in their first debate which aired on WHIO-TV Channel 7 and Newstalkradio WHIO.

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, Democrat opponent Sharen Neuhardt are competing for the district that includes Montgomery, Greene, and part of Fayette counties.

Libertarian David Harlow is also running for the congressional seat.

Turner, who served two terms as Dayton mayor before he was elected to Congress in 2002, discussed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and attracting more businesses to the southwestern part of the state in his opening statement.

Neuhardt, an attorney at Thompson Hine in Dayton, covered tax cuts and defense and the Miami Valley economy.

When asked about tax cuts, Neuhardt said she supported modest tax increases for the wealthiest Americans.

“That means 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses would not be included,” Neuhardt said. “I believe the wealthiest Americans need to pay a little more to help get our debt under control and an overwhelming majority of Americans agree with me.”

Turner said taxes shouldn’t be raised during a down economy.

“When we have economic troubles, you don’t have the government reach into the economy and take more money for the government to spend,” Turner said. “We need to make certain that money is out in the economy to create jobs, used to invest in their businesses, buy cars, invest and create jobs. That’s where the money needs to be.”

Turner said he will always oppose tax and spending increases.

Neuhardt said the wealthy should pay more in taxes, tax codes need to be revised to eliminate loopholes and government subsidies to industries, such as the oil industry, should come to an end.

“When more people work, more people are paying taxes,” she said. “Money is coming into our federal coffers and the economy is growing.”

Neuhardt said reasonable budget cuts were needed to protect jobs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the event that they were jeopardized by base realignment and closures.

“The first thing the federal government has to do, and we all agree on this, is the federal government has to get its fiscal house in order,” she said. “The across-the-board spending cuts are not the answer. We need reasonable spending cuts, but we also need additional revenue.”

Turner pointed to job growth at WPAFB during his tenure and added that “we shouldn’t be gambling with our security or jobs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.”

About halfway through the debate, the conversation turned to the auto industry bailout. Turner criticized the program saying it led to workers losing pensions, health care or life insurance.

“This was wrong,” Turner said. “It should not have been done this way.”

Neuhardt said the reason for the recent growth of General Motors and Chrysler is a result of the bailout.

“The auto rescue was the right thing to do,” she said.

Overall, Turner and Neuhardt took opposing positions on most issues with the exception of the drug warnin Afghanistan. Both candidates agreed that the drug trade was an issue in the war, but had different views on whether troops should stay there or come home.

“Our job in Afghanistan is not done,” Turner said. “There’s people who want to harm us.”

Neuhardt said it was time to bring troops home and stop incurring expenses associated with the war.`

When asked about the President Obama’s health care law, Turner said it doesn’t pay for itself and there are other options for improving health care other than a government takeover.

Neuhardt listed a number of things she liked about the bill, but added that costs for it need to be controled and small businesses need help with providing health care.

The hour-long debated was moderated by WHIO-TV’s Cheryl McHenry. Reporters from WHIO-TV, Newstalkradio WHIO and the Dayton Daily News asked the candidates questions.

After the debate on Sunday, both candidates were asked their thoughts on the most significant part of the debate.

“One of the things that stood out for me in the debate is how much credit Mike Turner thinks he deserves for everything good that happens around here and nothing bad that happens,” Neuhardt said. “He has a much different memory of what his tenure as mayor of Dayton was like than I think the rest of the Miami Valley (does).”

Turner pointed to his experience.

“My record of experience, in working both as mayor with the redevelopment of downtown, and as congressman for the expansion of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the most important contrast between us,” he said. “We’re going through a period where we’re going to need an experienced representative as Wright-Patt is going through very difficult challenges in the future.”