Orza, Henry differ on whose experiences best to lead state

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Vince Orza and Brad Henry on Thursday disagreed on whose background would better prepare him for governor as Orza touted his teaching and business experience and Henry pointed to

Friday, September 13th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Vince Orza and Brad Henry on Thursday disagreed on whose background would better prepare him for governor as Orza touted his teaching and business experience and Henry pointed to his years in public service.

Orza, an Edmond restaurateur, and Henry, a state senator from Shawnee, debated five days before a runoff election determines which Democrat will face Republican Steve Largent and independent Gary Richardson in November.

Henry criticized Orza for offering many promises but few solutions in a debate broadcast on Tulsa's KJRH-TV that featured the candidates trading attacks on missed elections, missed floor votes and tax policy.

Orza described the campaign, which headed for a runoff after neither won a majority in the August primary, as having two issues: underfunded schools and a dwindling economy.

``I'm a businessman but more importantly, I'm a teacher,'' Orza said. ``The issues are schools and jobs, and I'm the only candidate with the experience and skills to create jobs and change our schools.''

Henry, an attorney, narrowed the race to funding education through a statewide lottery and on which candidate had the governmental experience to lead the state during budget shortfalls.

``It all comes down to commitment to education,'' Henry said. ``I'm the only candidate who has an answer for funding education. If we finally do something and pass a lottery, we will improve our economy.''

Orza, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990 as a Republican, said he would increase teacher pay to keep educators from leaving for other states. He said he would pay the raises by having lawmakers fund education before they provide money for other services.

Henry, a veteran legislator, who described himself as a leader in improving state HMOs and civil litigation laws and in providing cheaper medications for seniors, said Orza's plan would fail because it would not generate new revenue.

Henry said his lottery proposal would bring $300 million to state coffers for education spending. Better education, plus tax breaks to Oklahoma companies and investment in research programs at universities will ignite the state's sputtering economy, he said.

Orza said he would travel the country recruiting companies to Oklahoma, touting the state's higher education system, cheap office and housing costs and other advantages. More companies would mean more jobs and more tax revenues, he said.

``We need more taxpayers. That's the bottom line,'' Orza said. ``Any other proposals are just Band-Aids.''

Henry criticized Orza's proposal to phase out the state income tax in favor of a tax on the sale of goods and services.

``That's a bad policy and it will result in a huge tax cut for the wealthiest Oklahomans on the backs of the working people,'' Henry said.

Orza said Henry was misrepresenting his plan and called the income tax system unattractive to businesses.

``We know the income tax needs to be replaced over time,'' Orza said. ``No one's saying end it tomorrow.''

In a sometimes rancorous debate where the candidates did not shake hands, Henry accused Orza of missing seven straight local school board elections. Orza responded by accusing Henry of missing 721 votes while serving in the Legislature.