Setting the scene for last night's 6th Congressional District debate

The entrance to Samford University's campus in Homewood, Ala. — The entrance to Samford University’s campus in Homewood, Ala.

NBC 13, Superstation 101, The Jefferson County Republican Party and the Samford College Republicans teamed up for last night’s 6th Congressional District debate held in Samford University’s Wright Center in Homewood.

Here was the view an hour before the #AL06 debate, from both the audience & candidates perspective #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/dFS9A9JstQ

— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) March 31, 2014

The venue was one of the most appealing parts of the entire event. The foyer of the Wright Center is beautiful, complete with an enormous crystal chandelier, plush carpet and two-story ceilings. The main hall seats 2,600 in comfortable stadium seating facing a stage big enough to accommodate a Broadway play. But the room was probably a bit larger than what would have been ideal. A good crowd showed up — I’d estimate around 400 people. That’s probably two to three times as many people as showed up to any debate in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District race last year. But because the Wright Center is so large, there wasn’t really an atmosphere of excitement and buzz in the room. When 2016 rolls around, though, I’ll be pushing for the Wright Center to host whatever presidential candidates roll through.

Matt Murphy’s picture below, although it cuts off a couple of hundred people sitting closer to the stage, shows how many seats were vacant toward the back of the room on the main floor.

Here we go. Sparse crowd frankly I thought more would be here. Watching at home? #AL06 pic.twitter.com/nkIFOEff27

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) March 31, 2014

Mike Royer, the evening anchor for NBC 13 served as an able moderator for the debate, but he was not tasked with asking the questions. That responsibility fell to three panelists: Leland Whaley, talk show host on Superstation 101; Barnett Wright, Jefferson County reporter for the Alabama Media Group; and Linda White, a reporter for NBC 13.

On to the candidates’ opening remarks…

Excited for the #AL06 Candidate Forum to begin! #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/qGjRLhOSMU

— ALGOP (@ALGOP) March 31, 2014

The seven candidates were given 1 minute each to deliver their opening remarks. Although opening remarks are typically canned, over-rehearsed lines, they can at least give a little bit of insight into how each candidate is trying to frame themselves. Here, in a nutshell, is what each candidate said to open things up (presented in the order in which they spoke):

Dr. Chad Mathis

• Was the first person in his family to go to college
• Built a life and lived the American dream, but believes that dream is now under attack by ObamaCare and the ballooning national debt
• Career politicians are not helping the situation
• Doctor and small business owner

I can help cure what ails Washington. — Dr. Chad Mathis

Will Brooke

• Grew up working hard delivering newspapers, pumping gas and waiting tables
• Married his high school sweetheart, who opened his heart to faith in Christ
• Father was a Navy veteran who passed down his values to his son
• Built his successful business career from scratch
• Believes in the resiliency of the American people
• Wants to go to Washington to make changes

I keep a Constitution in my pocket to remind me of the things that make America great. — Will Brooke

Sen. Scott Beason

• Serving in the state senate
• Family is the “reason why we do things,” the reason why he first ran for office
• Hasn’t sat back passively while serving in the legislature
• Led the charge on issues related to jobs, defending the Second Amendment, the rights of the unborn, and illegal immigration

You can know what I’m going to do in Congress by what I’ve done in the state legislature. — Scott Beason

Gary Palmer

• Predicted candidates would all sound mostly the same during the debate
• Briefly laid out plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare with a “plan that gives you control”
• Need to use energy resources to get the economy going again — “we’re not broke, we’re stupid!”

What we need to talk about are solutions, not soundbites. — Gary Palmer

Robert Shattuck

• The elites in Washington, D.C. are the problem, and they’re worse than they’ve ever been
• The D.C. establishment is a “dire threat to the country’s well-being”

My campaign is about the political class in Washington, D.C. that is doing a big time number on the American people. — Robert Shattuck

Tom Vigneulle

• Been running a business, Royal Bedding, Inc., for the past 26 years
• Also owns a family farm, knows what hard work is all about
• The Federal government is making it difficult for small businesses

I’m the candidate that will support and empower and encourage small business all across this district. — Tom Vigneulle

Rep. Paul DeMarco

• Expecting a baby soon, whose share of the national debt will be $60,000 at birth
• How can we stop the spending? By electing people of courage who will take tough votes regardless of the political consequences
• Won’t just fight Democrats, but also Republicans when they’re wrong
• Says he’s done it in Montgomery and will do it again in D.C.