Second District Congressional Candidates Square Off In Debate

A war of words unfolded tonight as Green Country congressional hopefuls squared off in a heated debate.

It wasn't long before the two candidates vying for the Republican nomination in the second Congressional district started trading jabs.

Oklahoma State Representative George Faught and Markwayne Mullin are in a run-off set for next month.

Rep. Faught turned on the heat a couple of weeks ago with a new campaign ad, and Mullin called him out on it Monday night.

The debate, organized by Rogers State University and several Claremore businesses and organizations, started off like any other and quickly took a dramatic turn.

"I want to challenge you to run a positive campaign," Mullin said.

In a part of the debate where the candidates ask each other the questions, Markwayne Mullin asked George Faught to sign a petition stating he would run a clean campaign.

Mullin is referencing a commercial, which aligns him with President Obama on the subject of healthcare.

7/5/2012 Related Story: Candidates In District 2 Congressional Race Argue Over Healthcare Positions

"I think the people of District 2 deserve to have answers and I think that someone's words actually mean something," said Rep. Faught.

Mullin said, "It's a shame someone can take things out of context and put them out there the way that so many elected politicians, who are more interested in their career, do every day."

Mullin maintains he is against any type of nationalized health care system.

Faught countered with a question involving Mullin's plumbing business.

"Mr. Mullin, in 2009 your business was raided by the ATF, and there was a convicted felon. Were you on record saying you gave weapons to him?" Faught asked.

Mullin admitted to the incident, but said he was cleared of wrongdoing, because his employee had lied to him.

"99.9% of our employees are great employees, but I had one that made a really bad decision and, George, you know it," Mullin said. "It just shows that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get this next pay raise you are looking for."

The debate ended with some animosity, as neither candidate shook the other's hand.

There's also a democratic run-off in this race between Rob Wallace and Wayne Herriman.

The run-off is Tuesday, August 28.