Figures, Dobson clash in congressional debate

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Congressional hopefuls Shomari Figures and Caroleene Dobson clashed in a debate Wednesday punctuated by policy differences and verbal swipes at each other’s resume.

Figures, a Democrat, and Dobson, a Republican are running to represent Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which was redrawn after a lengthy redistricting battle. The two faced off in Montgomery in a candidate forum hosted by the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and broadcast online by WSFA.

Dobson attacked Figures, who worked in the Obama White House and as a former top aide to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, over his background in the nation’s capital. Figures said his opponent was opting for a “photo-op” over meaningful solutions.

Dobson repeatedly called Figures a “Washington D.C. insider” and said he was “part of an administration that for the past four years crushed American opportunity.”

“He wants to continue the policies of the last four years, but you and I should ask ourselves: Are we better off than we were four years ago?” Dobson said.

Figures, speaking after the forum, said he does not “run from the fact” that most of his professional career was spent in Washington. Nonetheless, he said, Alabama is his home. “The root of it is: This is home for me. This where I was born, where I was raised,” Figures said.

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