The two leading candidates in one of the nation’s hottest congressional races appeared before more than 500 people for their first debate Wednesday night.

State Sens. Dianne Byrum, D Onondaga, and Mike Rogers, R Brighton, duked it out at Lansing Community College’s Dart Auditorium for an hour, discussing education, Social Security, campaign finance reform and other topics.

The two senators are competing for the 8th Congressional District seat currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Debbie Stabenow, D Lansing.

Stabenow is challenging U.S. Sen. Spence Abraham, R-Auburn Hills, for his seat.

The debate featured a mediated discussion between the two candidates with questions from three panelists and audience members.

Byrum said she felt the debate offered a great opportunity to get the issues out.

“It helps to define the differences of the candidates on the issues,” she said. “I thought the questions were very straightforward and very fair.”

But Rogers said the format - which didn’t allow the candidates to directly respond to each other - wasn’t always easy to follow, especially when Byrum implied his campaign had run negative television ads. Rogers said any negative ads have been run by other organizations - such as the Michigan Republican Party - and not his campaign.

“It’s always hard when there’s no rebuttal,” he said. “There is not a negative ad in there and there won’t be.

“Talk is cheap.”

Byrum said although this is not the first time she and Rogers have appeared together, it’s the first time there’s been a clear debate between the candidates.

“I’m very excited,” Byrum told The State News. “There’s clear differences between my opponent and myself on issues I feel are of key importance.

“Any time you can communicate with voters about what you stand for and what you’re going to fight for when you go to Congress, I think everybody wins.”

Byrum said she and Rogers disagree on many of the key issues this election.

“I want to pass a real patient’s bill of rights that holds insurance companies responsible, strengthen Medicare with a prescription drug benefit that’s voluntary but available to all seniors, (and make) sure we protect the solvency of Social Security, not privatize it,” she said.

However, the problems won’t get solved without bipartisan cooperation, Rogers said.

“This isn’t a Republican or a Democratic problem,” he said. “They’re people problems. It’s important to set aside differences.”

The candidates also disagreed on the subject of education.

Rogers supports education savings accounts that allow for tax-free savings for college, while Byrum wants more money put into Pell Grants and Stafford Loans.

The two were also asked by a panelist what role young voters play in elections and how the candidates planned to attract those voters to the polls.

Rogers sponsored legislation that requires people to vote at the address that appears on their driver’s license. The measure, which became law in April, was strongly opposed by many student groups.

Despite criticism, Rogers maintains the legislation has streamlined voter registration, allowing people to change their voter or driver’s license address online.

“If we believe in ourselves as Americans, the younger people will believe in themselves as well,” Rogers said. “You have to make that choice (where to vote).

“We have made it much, much easier for students to get involved.”

But Byrum said the law is a barrier to students and should not have been established just to keep state records more organized.

“I think we should be doing everything we can to get people to vote,” she said. “We should not be placing barriers.

“We have a problem with people not participating in enough numbers.”

Many audience members were students or employees at LCC. Some people affiliated with MSU were also able to attend the debate.

“I think it went well for both candidates,” said Ken Long, an MSU political science junior.

Long, a first-time debate attendee, said although he is a Rogers supporter, he doesn’t agree with him on everything, such as Rogers’ position against school vouchers.

“I disagree with Mike Rogers on the school vouchers, (but) I believe he ended on a very good note,” he said.

Kristyne E. Demske can be reached at demskekr@msu.edu.