Flynn, Bassett spar in 22nd Senate District debate at University of Scranton

Oct. 28—SCRANTON — The candidates vying to represent the 22nd Senate District for the next four years split on abortion, legislative priorities and other issues Thursday night in their only face-to-face debate ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

Incumbent Democratic Sen. Marty Flynn and Republican Tom Bassett squared off for an hour inside the PNC Auditorium at the University of Scranton's Loyola Science Center.

The school's Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service hosted the debate in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County.

Flynn, 47, Dunmore, is seeking his first full term as senator after winning a special election in 2021 to replace former Sen. John Blake. Bassett, 31, Pittston, a band and music teacher in the Dallas School District, is making his first bid for elected office.

Under questioning by moderator LWV member Andrea Mulrine, the candidates found common ground on a few issues but clashed on others.

On the hot-button topic of abortion, Flynn said he is personally pro-life but made clear he supports a woman's right to have an abortion.

"I'm not a woman. I don't have a uterus. I can't have a child. ... These decisions belong between a doctor and a woman, not me," Flynn said, adding that outlawing abortion will not make it go away.

Bassett said he is pro-life and believes "in the sanctity of life, and that includes the life of the mother."

If an emergency arose during a pregnancy that put the mother at risk, the family can decide how to proceed in that situation, he said.

He said he is also supportive of better programs for mothers, including child support during pregnancy and adoption reform.

In response to a question about the biggest threat to democracy, Bassett cited government corruption and the government abuse of power.

He said he supports term limits for state legislators and has promised to serve no more than two terms in the Senate if elected.

"Being there for too long a time is what breeds that corruption," Bassett said.

Flynn said he see two threats: candidates who want to make the United States a one-party system and the assault on voting rights.

"Those are the two most dangerous thing we have right now, but especially voting rights," he said. "We should make it easier for people to vote, not harder."

On that point, the two candidates mostly agreed.

As Mulrine ran down a list of voting rights-related issues, both candidates said they would support allowing independent and nonaffiliated voters to participate in primaries, no-excuse mail-in ballots and the adoption of statewide rules for ballot drop boxes.

But while Flynn said he supported the current use of drop boxes, Bassett expressed opposition, citing constitutional and security concerns.

Flynn said his top priority in the General Assembly will be funding for public education and making it more equitable for all Pennsylvanians. He said he was proud to have supported the historic investment in education funding in this year's budget.

Bassett said people are being crushed by inflation, high energy bills and too many taxes that are too high. He would support lowering taxes as a way to stimulate the economy and bring inflation down, he said.

On gun regulation, Bassett said there is a right to guns in the state constitution and the onus should be on people who break the law. He favors harsher penalties for criminals.

Flynn said he supports the closing of loopholes for buying firearms and more extensive checks for purchasers.

The 22nd District, which previously included all of Lackawanna County and slivers of Luzerne and Monroe counties, now consists of only part of Lackawanna and a larger area of Luzerne as a result of redistricting.

The district includes Scranton, the Abingtons, the Downvalley, Scott Twp., Dickson City, Throop and Dunmore in Lackawanna County, and Wilkes-Barre, the eight Pittston Area School District towns, Bear Creek, Buck, Plains and Wilkes-Barre townships and Bear Creek Village, Laflin, Laurel Run, West Pittston and Wyoming boroughs in Luzerne.

State senators currently earn $95,432.14 annually.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132