Sheran said she believes the focus of lawmakers should be on preventing unwanted pregnancies, and women should have the right to decide whether to have an abortion. She doesn’t support capital punishment.

While there were disagreements, the candidates were roughly on the same page on many issues. Both said they would support an increase in the gas tax to generate needed revenue for road repair and expansion. Both also would like to address skyrocketing college tuition costs and make K-12 education a budget priority.

Each also pledged to avoid the partisan gridlock that’s prompted numerous special sessions when lawmakers couldn’t pass a budget on time.

Although Sheran would support shifting the source of tax dollars from property taxes and fees to income taxes, neither candidate called for an increase in taxes other than the gas tax. Both also declined to directly answer a question about where spending could be cut to make money available for education and other programs they support.

Piepho said he’s confident, however, that there is fat to be found, noting the state is the largest employer in Minnesota.

“We are definitely overspending,” he said. “It’s not a revenue problem, it’s a spending problem.”

The best way to help people is to make sure Minnesota has low enough taxes to attract the businesses that provide good jobs, he said.

Sheran said that after several years of budget cuts resulting from the state budget deficit, more cutting isn’t the answer.

“We’re already anorexic in some areas of government,” Sheran said. “And I really think that dog doesn’t hunt anymore.”

Minnesota’s tradition of investing generously in education attracts businesses because of the high-quality employees in the state, she said.

The debate was sponsored by Debate Minnesota, a nonprofit foundation supported by the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota. St. Paul Pioneer Press political reporter Jim Ragsdale and Free Press Editor Joe Spear served as moderators.