Thread by @BenWinslow

The debate between @SeanReyesUT and @SkordasGreg is under way. First ? Describe an experience that prepared you to be AG.

Reyes says violent crime is down on his watch, says he works across the aisle. He immediately accuses Skordas of going "hyper negative." #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT is reading negative reviews about @SkordasGreg from online.

Skordas defends his record and says he's been rated as one of the state's top lawyers with hundreds of clients.

"I didn't expect us to start out so negative," he says. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

When is it appropriate to offer opinion on policy?

@SkordasGreg says Utahns passed ballot initiatives and @SeanReyesUT has done nothing to support the will of the people.

@fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SkordasGreg goes after @SeanReyesUT for joining a lawsuit against health care, which goes against voters who approved Medicaid expansion.

Reyes says he doesn't dictate policy or make policy. He says he's tasked to defend citizens in Utah. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT says he doesn't believe it's his job to dictate to the #utleg, but he supports laws and defends them even if he personally disagrees with them.

"My opponent would be an activist attorney general," Reyes says. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT says he supported medical cannabis.

@SkordasGreg says he prosecuted death penalty cases, even though he disagrees with it.

"My opponent hasn't prosecuted a speeding ticket," he says. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@DixieState student asks about the lawsuit over Obamacare?

@SeanReyesUT does support the case, but insists people will not lose health care. He says he joined for legal reasons, but says people can't afford high premiums, higher prescription costs. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SkordasGreg says his opponent will "throw out the baby with the bath water" and will ignore Utahns who voted for Medicaid expansions.

"We're going to take expanded Medicaid away... and say it's illegal taxation," he says. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT says voters "assumed the act was constitutional."

@SkordasGreg says Utahns need medical coverage "and the voters had to go to the legislature because... these guys wouldn't do anything about it." @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

Q on #LGBTQ protections?

"I pledge to follow the law," @SeanReyesUT says, talking about policies that are in place on suicide prevention, etc.

@SkordasGreg says he prosecuted hate crimes, and he stands up for the community. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

Q on criminal justice reform?

@SkordasGreg says he helped bring drug courts to Utah 20 years ago and it's been expanded.

"That's real criminal justice reform," he says.

@fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SkordasGreg says bail reform is something they need to do now.

@SeanReyesUT says he also supports drug courts, but says "no AG in America has done more for criminal justice reform than I have."

He cites many criminal reforms in recent legislations. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT says he backed better practices for handing juvenile defendants, but he's called out problems for lack of funding and treatment options. He also works on wrongful convictions, indigency and policing reforms "but not defunding police." @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@EmilyFlorezNews asks about Banjo?

"Banjo did no facial recognition, took in no personal or private info," @SeanReyesUT says, adding: "It is a wonderful tool."

He says founder Damien Patton "is a good person who made a mistake." @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT says it's "transformative."

"Banjo is probably illegal surveillance," @SkordasGreg says, signaling his distaste for it.

"That's inappropriate and a violation of our constitution" and adds it "just wants to spy." @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@DixieState student asks about policing reform.

@SkordasGreg says he teaches on policing reform, has written no-knock warrants. He says Utah doesn't have the problem like other states, but adds it doesn't mean we're perfect. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

"Police need to be trained in de-escalation," @SkordasGreg says, adding they also need bias trainings.

@SeanReyesUT says he's honored to stand with law enforcement and works with them in the field and "also hold them accountable." @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT says he's not immune from hate. He gets racial threats and hate mail.

"As to reform, we do need some in policing," he says.

But he objects to defunding the police, supports restorative justice. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@laddegan asks about what policing reforms do you support?

@SeanReyesUT says it's not a binary choice. He says you can have more programs, but "they cost money." He touts mobile crisis units.

@fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SkordasGreg says policing reform needs to be one of more openness and transparency, with timelines for releasing body cams and dash cams.

@fox13 #utpol #utdebates

Do you support #BlackLivesMatter? @SkordasGreg says "absolutely."

@SeanReyesUT says he supports the statement, not necessarily the movement. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

I asked @SeanReyesUT about taking money from the Kingston polygamous family when they were under investigation?

He acknowledged it was a mistake, but says they didn't know they were under investigation at the time (and says nothing illegal). @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

I also asked @SkordasGreg about an incident where he failed to file charges and let 27 inmates out of jail back when he was a prosecutor?

Skordas admits he made a mistake, but insists none of the inmates went out and committed violent crimes. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

The moderator pivots to transparency and @SkordasGreg criticizes @SeanReyesUT for taking the Kingston family's money.

"You're the attorney general, do some vetting," he says. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SeanReyesUT says everyone thought Washakie was "the greatest thing on earth in terms of clean energy."

"There's never been a credible complaint about my office in terms of campaign contributions," Reyes counters. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

"Just because be brings this up 1,000 times doesn't make it true," @SeanReyesUT says.

Q on joining other states to go to SCOTUS for rulings on federal legislation.

Reyes says they do it all the time

*This is true. ALL AGs do it! @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SkordasGreg says the AG is "the attorney for the people" and says @SeanReyesUT has joined "far right attorney generals... to take health care away."

"That's fear-mongering and you know that," Reyes replies.

"Of course they are! Don't say that!" Skordas says. #utpol #utdebates

"You were criticized by your own Republican legislature for failing to join the opioid lawsuit," @SkordasGreg says.

"I'm leading the lawsuit on opioids," Reyes counters.

This got heated. @fox13 #utpol #udebates

In closing statements, @SeanReyesUT says @SkordasGreg wants to get on TV, and reads more negative reviews.

@SkordasGreg says he's proud of his record and says he's been a prosecutor. Reyes starts talking over Skordas' closing statement. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

That was... SOMETHING.

And there was no shaking of hands post-debate.

"Thank you gentlemen," moderator @jnpearce says.

@fox13 #utpol #utdebates

Post-debate, @SeanReyesUT says he is defending his name and regrets his opponent has been “super negative.” @fox13 #utpol #utdebates

.@SkordasGreg says he was certainly surprised by @SeanReyesUT going negative right off the bat. @fox13 #utpol #utdebates