Pendergraph, Pittenger Similar On Issues But Still Room For Attack

A debate Monday between 9th district Republican congressional candidates Jim Pendergraph and Robert Pittenger showed the two are largely on the same page issue-wise. But that didn't stop them from taking jabs at each other. The most notable exchange concerned a vote Pittenger made for a bill in 2003 when he was a state senator. The bill increased the value of property he owned. Pendergraph produced a copy of the deed to the land in question. Mr. Pittenger signed this deed and sold the property after he voted for this, which increased the value of his property," Pendergraph said, "And I have to ask Mr. Pittenger is that your signature on that deed?" To which Pittenger responded, "This went to the ethics committee. There were no charges. Nothing came out of the ethics committee. There was no wrongdoing whatsoever." In the end, the candidates have similar positions on issues like immigration and the Obama health care plan. They both endorse fracking and gas drilling on the North Carolina coast. And they both oppose federally supported light rail projects.