Ducey, Garcia square off in first debate

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KSAZ) - The first of two debates took place Monday night between Arizona gubernatorial candidates Doug Ducey and David Garcia.

The debate was held at Arizona PBS in conjunction with the Citizens Clean Election Commission. Green Party candidate Angel Torres was also there.

The candidates were questioned on a number of topics, but it was education that was front and center for most of the debate.

That includes the growing number of charter schools in the state, and what some believe is the need for accountability and transparency with the charter system.

Here is how they responded.

Ducey: "David was part of the organization when he worked in education in the 90s that put the framework together for charter schools. He sat on a charter school board, he missed more than half the meetings. Charters in many ways...I think choice is a good thing but where we have improvement or accountability or transparency or procurement, I want to fix that."

Garcia: "For years I made it clear we need more charter accountability and transparency on behalf of charter schools.Only now a problem when Doug Ducey walked in the door is a problem today and he is promising in the next administration that sometime in the future there will be a solution."

Both candidates also talked about immigration reform as well as the economy.

There is a second debate scheduled for Tuesday night in Tucson.